Reconstructing Connectivity: The Logic Behind Taraba’s Ongoing Road Projects

 

By Barr Zainab Usman Jalingo

Governance is best measured not by promises but by the tangible outcomes that alter daily life. In Taraba State, the administration of Governor Agbu Kefas has placed infrastructure at the heart of its development strategy, with a clear understanding that no economy grows where roads collapse and communities remain cut off from markets and essential services.

 

Among the major projects recently funded are the Mararaba–Baissa–Abong Road, divided into three lots of 28 kilometres each and awarded respectively to CGC Nigeria Limited, CCECC Nigeria Limited, and China Zhanghao, with ₦5 billion released per lot. This axis has long represented one of the most economically strategic but physically neglected parts of the state. The project is intended to open up Baissa's vast agricultural belt, improve logistics for trade, and reduce travel time for rural populations who have endured years of limited access.

 

The same principle of balanced development applies to the Pamanga–Dakka Road (35 km, ₦5 billion), the Mararaba–Yorro–Pantisawa Road (20 km, ₦5 billion), the Yerima–Gassol Road (24 km, ₦5 billion), and the Wukari–Kente–Chinkai Road (35 km, ₦5 billion). Each of these routes connects productive communities to the state's commercial centres. The Takum–Ussa Road (12 km, ₦1 billion) represents another deliberate intervention to improve mobility in the southern corridor.

 

In addition, the Governor approved ₦1.9 billion for palliative repairs and township upgrades, covering pothole rehabilitation along the Wukari–Tella–Mutum Biyu and Bali–Mararaba/Baissa roads, as well as improvements to township roads in Jalingo and Wukari. This effort ensures that while large projects are ongoing, existing routes remain passable and functional for residents and businesses.

 

What distinguishes these interventions is not only their scale but their strategy. By engaging multiple reputable construction firms, the administration has spread both responsibility and efficiency. The release of funds reflects a transparent financing approach that guarantees continuity and accountability. Each project is designed to feed into a broader development architecture where improved access will stimulate local production, attract private investment, and strengthen inter-community trade.

 

The Kefas administration has consistently emphasized that roads are not symbols of prestige but instruments of growth. They determine how quickly agricultural produce reaches the market, how easily students get to school, and how effectively security operations are carried out. For a state with vast arable land and a young population, good roads translate directly to opportunity.

 

Taraba is undergoing a phase of deliberate reconstruction. These projects mark the government's resolve to shift the conversation from intentions to impact. As work progresses across all the identified corridors, the outcome will redefine the state's economic geography and restore confidence in governance as a tool for collective progress.

 

 

 

 

Barr Zainab Usman Jalingo is the Hon. Commissioner for Information and Re-orientation

Taraba State Government