Taraba State Denies N1.2 Trillion Debt Allegation by Opposition

Taraba State's government has strongly refuted opposition claims that the state is burdened with N1.2 trillion in debt, labeling the figure as inaccurate and misleading. Commissioner of Finance, Dr. Sarah Adi, addressed journalists in Jalingo, explaining that critics failed to differentiate between existing debt, approved banking facilities, outstanding balances, and undisbursed financing arrangements.

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the official DMO figures do not support suggestions that Taraba State’s recognised domestic debt stock has risen to anything approaching N1.2 trillion.

Adi presented official figures from the Debt Management Office (DMO), indicating that Taraba's domestic debt stock actually decreased from N87.96 billion before the current administration to N85.51 billion by December 31, 2025. The state's external debt saw a modest rise from $46.47 million in December 2022 to $48.04 million by December 2025. She emphasized that approved facility limits, such as the N206.78 billion commercial bank facility, should not be equated with actual outstanding liabilities, as repayments and restructuring have occurred.

Clarifying reports on a proposed N350 billion capital-market financing program, Adi stated the state had not received these funds, as the program is subject to regulatory approvals and market conditions. Similarly, a $268 million financing agreement with the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development for an integrated industrial park and solar power project remains undisbursed, pending condition fulfillment. Adi asserted that combining headline values of approved, proposed, and undisbursed facilities creates a false picture of the state's financial position.

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Approval or original facility value is not the same thing as the outstanding liability at a later date.

The government reiterated Governor Agbu Kefas's commitment to fiscal discipline, stating that any borrowings are tied to productive infrastructure, matched against repayment capacity, and managed transparently. The administration aims to present an accurate financial standing, countering what it describes as politically motivated misinformation.

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Adding the headline values of approved, proposed and undisbursed facilities together and describing the result as Taraba State’s current debt presents a false picture of the state’s financial position.