The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, has commended the Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas, for what he described as a pragmatic leadership style that has significantly improved security in the state, making it more appealing to investors.
Speaking at the inaugural Taravest Summit on Wednesday in Jalingo, the monarch praised the administration for creating a more stable and investor-friendly environment.
“In the past, the situation in Taraba was not encouraging,” the Sultan said. “But today, we can confidently say someone is doing the right thing. No matter how much you try to attract investors, if there is no security, they will not come.”
The summit, themed “Unlocking Taraba’s Investment Potentials – Advancing Agriculture, Energy, Mining and Industrialisation (AEMI) for Sustainable Growth and Development,” brought together stakeholders from both the public and private sectors to explore opportunities in the state’s rich resource base.
The Sultan noted that he had personally discussed developments in the state with Governor Kefas and observed visible improvements in safety and governance.
“Taraba is more secure than it used to be, and people can now come in peacefully,” he said.
The traditional ruler reaffirmed the support of the royal institution for the governor’s agenda, stating: “We are here as moral and spiritual leaders to give you the support you need. You can hide under us; we assure you of our backing.”
However, the Sultan raised concern over the prolonged delays in completing the Kashimbila Dam project. He stressed the urgency of finishing the work, pointing out its potential to resolve much of Nigeria’s energy deficit.
“We need that dam ready at 100 per cent,” he said. “If that project had been completed and was already generating power, many of the challenges we are having with power would have been a thing of the past.”
He criticised successive administrations for failing to finalise the critical infrastructure and called on the Federal Government to prioritise its completion.
“Let it generate power not just for Taraba, but for the entire North-East and the country at large,” he added.
The Kashimbila Dam, when fully operational, is expected to provide hydroelectric power, irrigation support, and potable water to millions across the region.
