2027: NDP Candidate Nuhu Atta Unveils 4R Agenda, Courts Youth Support

The governorship candidate of the National Democratic Party (NDP) in Taraba State, Prof. Nuhu Abubakar Atta, has unveiled an 11-point development agenda anchored on what he described as the “4R” philosophy of rebuilding, economic revolution, infrastructure reconstruction and security reform.

Atta, while addressing supporters and prospective voters in his campaign message, said his administration, if elected in 2027, would prioritise electricity, roads, water, healthcare, education, agriculture, tourism, transportation, technology, revenue generation and security.

He also appealed to youths, first-time voters and other residents to participate actively in the 2027 election, saying the state needed a new approach to governance and development.

Presenting what he called the “Taraba Resurgence: A Covenant with the People,” Atta said his programme was designed as a “costed and sequenced plan” rather than a collection of campaign slogans.

He said the four pillars of his proposed administration would be “Rebuilding with God, Revolutionising Our Economy, Reconstructing Our Infrastructure and Ruggedly Securing Our People.”

On electricity, the NDP candidate promised to pursue a decentralised power strategy, particularly for rural communities that he said remained poorly connected to the national grid.

He proposed completing the Kashimbila hydropower expansion, developing small and medium-sized hydropower plants, expanding solar mini-grids and pursuing utility-scale solar projects.

Atta also promised to establish a Taraba State Electrification Agency and work with private investors and development partners to expand electricity access.

On roads, he pledged to declare a state of emergency on rural roads within 90 days of assuming office and commence the rehabilitation of 600 kilometres of feeder roads.

He also listed the completion of the Jalingo-Wukari-Ibi road, rehabilitation of the Bali-Serti-Gembu corridor and construction of roads linking Mutum-Biyu to Donga and Karim-Lamido to Lau among his priorities.

The candidate said his administration would establish a Taraba State Road Maintenance Agency and deploy modern equipment and engineers to maintain the state's road network.

On water supply, Atta proposed the completion of abandoned water projects, revival of existing schemes and construction of three regional water schemes in the northern, central and southern parts of the state.

He also promised the construction of 2,000 hand-pump boreholes in rural communities and a programme to support low-income households with water meters.

On revenue generation, the NDP candidate said his administration would digitalise revenue collection and block leakages through a central electronic platform.

He promised to publish revenue transactions regularly and expand the state's internally generated revenue base while renegotiating mining licences and developing tourism-related revenue streams.

Atta said additional revenue would be channelled into infrastructure and social protection programmes, with 15 per cent of new revenue proposed for a social security scheme for elderly and disabled residents.

In the health sector, he proposed upgrading more than 200 primary healthcare centres with solar power, water, drugs and additional health personnel.

He also promised to train and recruit 1,000 health workers, upgrade general hospitals in Wukari, Gembu, Takum and Bali, and introduce a state health insurance scheme covering pregnant women, children under five and senior citizens at no premium.

He further proposed the deployment of 32 ambulances across the state's 16 local government areas and the establishment of two specialist hospitals in the central and southern senatorial districts, alongside the upgrading of the specialist hospital in Jalingo.

In education, Atta promised to renovate public primary schools, provide school meals, improve teacher remuneration and recruit 2,500 teachers, particularly for rural communities.

He also proposed the establishment of model science and technical colleges, intervention funding for tertiary institutions and a scholarship programme for 1,000 girls annually.

On agriculture and industrialisation, the NDP candidate said his government would support 100,000 smallholder farmers with subsidised inputs and recruit 500 agricultural extension workers.

He proposed the construction of silos and agro-processing clusters across the state, targeting commodities including yam, rice, tea, coffee, cashew and cassava.

He also promised to establish a Taraba Agro-Micro Finance Bank and attract investors into textile, furniture, construction-materials and animal-feed manufacturing.

Atta identified tourism as another area with significant economic potential, citing the Mambilla Plateau, Gashaka-Gumti National Park, cultural festivals, waterfalls and other attractions.

He promised improved access roads, tourism infrastructure, eco-lodges, digital marketing and annual cultural and tourism events as part of his proposed tourism development programme.

On transportation, he proposed mass transit systems in Jalingo and Wukari, rehabilitation of rail connections, development of river transportation and upgrading of the Danbaba Suntai Airport in Jalingo.

He also promised modern motor parks and improved road safety measures.

The NDP candidate said technology would be integrated into government services, agriculture, healthcare, education and security.

He proposed three technology hubs in Jalingo, Wukari and Gembu, as well as digital platforms for farmers, healthcare services and government transactions.

Security featured prominently in his agenda, with Atta proposing community security structures, local intelligence hubs and a state security response command involving relevant security agencies.

He also proposed three forward operating bases, improved surveillance, emergency response systems and additional training for security personnel.

A major component of the proposal is the establishment of a Taraba State Security Trust Fund, which he described as a public-private partnership designed to mobilise resources for security equipment, training and logistics.

According to Atta, the proposed fund would be subject to independent auditing and public disclosure of its financial statements.

He said his administration would also focus on addressing conflicts between farmers and herders through negotiated grazing arrangements, community dialogue, faster dispute resolution and victim-support programmes.

On youth development, Atta said a significant proportion of his proposed security strategy would focus on productive engagement, including skills training, micro-grants and opportunities for young people.

He urged youths and other voters to see themselves as participants rather than spectators in the political process.

Atta said his administration would publish contracts and audits online and promised that public funds would be subjected to greater transparency and accountability.

“No family will be left behind. We will govern with empathy and inclusivity,” he said.

He also promised to fight corruption, particularly ghost workers, inflated contracts, procurement fraud and diversion of public funds.

The NDP candidate said Taraba had the resources to become a major economic hub in the Northeast if its natural assets were matched with effective planning, infrastructure and accountable leadership.

He urged voters to participate in the 2027 election and protect their votes, saying the state needed leadership focused on service rather than the accumulation of political power.

“Let us build a Taraba where our children will no longer say, ‘I want to leave.’ They will say, ‘I want to build right here,’” Atta said.