Gov. Kefas Unveils Taraba Climate Action Plan, Moves to Protect Forests, Rivers
JALINGO — Governor Agbu Kefas has unveiled the Taraba State Climate Change Policy and Action Plan, setting out a new framework to protect the state’s forests, rivers, agricultural resources and communities from growing environmental threats.
The policy was formally presented on Friday in Jalingo as part of the government’s efforts to strengthen Taraba’s response to changing weather patterns and promote environmentally sustainable development.
Speaking at the event, Kefas said climate change was no longer a distant concern, noting that its effects were increasingly being felt by farmers and communities across the state.
He identified irregular rainfall, declining water resources and pressure on forests among the environmental challenges requiring urgent and coordinated intervention.
The governor said protecting Taraba’s natural resources was critical not only for the environment but also for agriculture, livelihoods and the long-term economic future of the state.
Kefas urged residents, farmers and communities to support measures aimed at conserving forests while sustaining agricultural production. He particularly warned against practices such as indiscriminate bush burning that could further degrade the environment.
He also identified poor waste disposal as another challenge requiring attention, stressing the importance of keeping streets and drainage channels free of refuse as part of a broader environmental management strategy.
The governor called on the Federal Government, the National Council on Climate Change, development organisations and other partners to support Taraba in translating the newly unveiled policy into concrete programmes and projects.
Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Hajiya Aishat Barde, said successful implementation would require participation beyond the state government.
She called on ministries, departments and agencies, local government councils, traditional institutions, communities, women and youth organisations, businesses and development partners to play active roles in delivering the objectives of the policy.
According to Barde, addressing climate change requires coordinated action across different sectors rather than leaving the responsibility to a single government institution.
She said the policy provides a roadmap for making Taraba more environmentally sustainable, economically productive and better prepared to withstand climate-related challenges.
The commissioner acknowledged the financial and technical contributions of Natural Eco Capital, the Society for Planet and Prosperity and the African Climate Foundation towards the development of the policy.
She also commended the Kefas administration for placing environmental sustainability and climate action within the state’s broader development agenda.
With agriculture providing livelihoods for a significant section of Taraba’s population, implementation of the new policy could have far-reaching implications for farming communities, forest conservation, water resources, waste management and the state’s response to increasingly unpredictable weather conditions.
