Taraba state government has vowed to tackle poverty with the majority of the population living in poverty.
The state Commissioner for the Ministry of Cooperative and Poverty Alleviation in Taraba State, Habu James Philip who disclosed this said the ministry had identified vulnerable groups, the less privileged and the poor, and worked towards alleviating or eradicating their hardships to improve their livelihood through collaborations with stakeholders.
He added that before this administration, insecurity was a major concern in Taraba. Farmers are now able to work without fear, which directly supports agricultural and economic growth.
“When we started, it was a challenging mandate, considering that the commissioner explained that Taraba has a population of about four million, with the majority facing extreme poverty.
“Statistics spectacle that around eighty percent of the population live in Poverty affects various areas such as education, infrastructure, healthcare and access to electricity.”
Philip added that upon assuming office, Governor Agbu Kefas took immediate action by declaring free education and reducing higher education fees by half, which greatly helped reduce financial burdens.
“Additionally, he focused on agriculture, distributing new farm implements to cooperative farmers. This move has significantly impacted poverty reduction.
“The government is constructing roads to facilitate access to local markets, ensuring farmers can transport their products easily.
“The major challenge we’ve faced in Taraba has been a lack of leadership focused on poverty alleviation.
“The present administration has taken steps to improve education, infrastructure, and healthcare and has made advanced agricultural tools accessible. Addressing these gaps is essential as they contribute to poverty.
“Through the Ministry of Rural Development, road rehabilitation has been prioritized, tractors were recently distributed to cooperative farmers, courtesy of the North East Development Commission.
“Taraba state Government has also offered financial support through social grants, providing fifty thousand naira to one hundred thousand naira to youths; these are concrete steps toward eradicating poverty in Taraba.”
“The governor’s initiatives in these areas are visible across the state, and we’re already seeing positive impacts.
“Agriculture is indeed Taraba’s key sector for poverty reduction. About 85 percent of Taraba’s population should ideally be involved in farming due to our fertile lands. With the right training, I believe that within the next decade, Taraba can become a major agricultural exporter. This administration is highly focused on women’s empowerment.
“Through the Nigeria for Women Project, funded by the World Bank, we provided rice and groundnut processing machines to women across the sixteen Local Government Areas.
“Empowering women is empowering the community, and this initiative has already transformed many lives,” he said.
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