There is currently a totally new and
pragmatic attitude to the very important
issue of development of Taraba State under
the leadership of Governor Darius Dickson
Ishaku. That attitude is anchored on the need
to ignite local and foreign investment
interests in the state by encouraging people
from all parts of the world to come and see
the abundance of agricultural, mineral and
tourism potentials of the state.
It is part of the larger idea of developing a
partnership with people with the resources
and technical competence that can help in
the implementation of the state government’s
blueprint for socio-economic transformation.
But this highly optimistic concept of
development comes with a huge burden.
The state must itself be adequately prepared
for the expected influx of visitors and
increased tempo of economic activities. That
means that the various means of
transportation to and from the state must
improve to make traveling easy and
attractive to all visitors. This got Governor
Ishaku working and doing so very hard.
The first thing he did was the renovation of
the Jalingo Airport which had been
abandoned for many years. The airport is
now open to flights. There are now three
direct flights into Jalingo, the capital city of
Taraba State weekly. Ishaku is still
discussing with more airline operators to
start similar direct flights to Jalingo and the
idea has been very well received.
But the greater aspect of the job of
smoothening the way for visitors to the state
lies in improving the roads in and around the
state. And Governor Ishaku is already doing a
good job in that direction. Virtually every
local government council area in the state
has benefitted from the road construction and
reconstruction programme of the
administration.
The administration has been more generous
with Jalingo in this respect. One of the major
road project executed in Jalingo is the Jolly
Nyame Road. There is also the Jalingo –
Kona – Lau road that was for many years a
nightmare to motorists. It has been tarred
and this gesture of the administration is
being deeply appreciated and applauded by
those using the road regularly. Also expanded
and tarred is Hammanruwa, a major road in
the commercial part of the town.



Another major road whose rehabilitation has
earned the Governor the most accolades is
Magami Road where Good Shepherd
International School is located. The road
attracts huge traffic, especially during school
hours when parents drop and pick their
children. It was like a trip to and from hell
then. Today it is a smooth drive into and out
of Magami Street. The story is very much the
same for Palace Road which has been
expanded and asphalted.
The story is very much the same for Palace
Road which has been expanded and
asphalted.
In fact, Jalingo is under-going a complete
facelift through roads rehabilitation. By the
time the administration is done with the work
it is already doing on the roads of Jalingo,
the town will never be the same again. The
beauty of the job being done lies more in the
quality of delivery. The roads are in most
cases being delivered complete with street
lights and drainage channels for containing
the menace of flooding.
The road from Bali to Gashaka is one of
major projects done by the Ishaku
administration. Before that road was done,
the journey between the two towns took not
less than three hours of stressful and
hazardous driving. Now it is a one hour
smooth drive.
All damaged spots that were notorious for
causing accidents and deaths on roads in the
state have been rehabilitated. This is not
limited to any local government. All parts of
the state have benefitted from this road
rehabilitation programme that has saved
many lives and properties. Before Ishaku
came into office, the road from Gashaka to
Gembu was cut off by erosion. Motorists
spent hours at one spot near the damaged
portion of the road to take their turns in
navigating through a narrow bush path. This
got to the attention of Ishaku who promptly
dispatched a