Governor Kefas Seeks RMAFC Support To Unlock Taraba’s…

Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State has called for stronger intervention by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to enable the state unlock its vast tourism, agricultural and solid mineral resources for sustainable economic development.

Kefas made the call when he received a delegation of RMAFC officials who were in the state to assess Taraba’s application for access to the Natural Resources Development Fund.

Represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chief Gebon Kataps, the governor said Taraba State possesses enormous natural and agricultural resources capable of attracting significant investments, particularly in tourism, agriculture and solid minerals, the three key areas covered by the fund.

He said the state’s abundant natural resources and extensive agricultural land placed it in a strong position to benefit from the intervention, stressing that strategic investment would help transform the resources into sustainable sources of revenue, employment and improved livelihoods.

As part of efforts to attract investment into the solid minerals sector, Kefas disclosed that the state would host a solid minerals investment roundtable on Saturday, where investment opportunities across its mineral-rich communities would be explored.

The governor said his administration was committed to the responsible development of Taraba’s mineral resources, noting that effective exploitation of the sector could stimulate economic growth, create jobs and improve the standard of living of residents.

On tourism, Kefas identified the Mambilla Plateau, Nwonyo Fishing Festival and Gashaka-Gumti National Park as some of the state’s major tourism assets.

He maintained that with appropriate investments in infrastructure and other supporting facilities, Taraba could position itself as one of Nigeria’s leading tourism destinations.

The governor also highlighted the state’s agricultural potential, citing its vast arable land and favourable climatic conditions as major advantages that could enable Taraba to make greater contributions to national food security.

He therefore appealed for strategic investments and development support to unlock the full potential of the agricultural sector.

Kefas assured the RMAFC delegation of the state government’s full cooperation throughout the assessment process, saying arrangements had been made to facilitate access to relevant government officials, information and sites required by the team.

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Earlier, the leader of the RMAFC delegation, Ambassador Desmond Akawo, said the team was in Taraba State to identify areas through which the state could benefit from the Natural Resources Development Fund.

Akawo disclosed that the commission received Taraba’s application to access the fund in 2024, explaining that the intervention was designed to support key sectors, including tourism, agriculture and solid minerals.

He said the delegation would engage relevant desk officers and inspect selected sites across the state as part of its assessment.

According to him, the team would return to Abuja after completing the exercise and submit its recommendations to the President for consideration and approval.

The assessment is expected to deepen collaboration between the Taraba State Government by and RMAFC while creating a pathway for greater investment in the state’s natural resources.

For Taraba, the intervention could mark a significant step towards moving its vast natural endowments from largely untapped potential to productive economic assets capable of generating employment, strengthening food security and expanding the state’s revenue base.