Taraba state was nicknamed natures gift to the nation largely due to the uncommon tourism potentials that abound in the state. They include; the natural water falls at the Mambilla Plateau, the mountainous formation, the highest pick in the country, the first ever post office in Lau, the mountain of death, the self-boiled pond in Karim, the Gashaka Gumti Park and the over eighty cultural festivals across the state, STEPHEN OSU looks at the potentials and government’s commitment towards turning them around for the better.
Background
Taraba state was created on 28th August 1991 the state was named after river Taraba which crisscrosses almost all the sixteen local government areas. The state was later nicknamed natures gift to the nation by the military dictatorship of the late general Sani Abacha largely due to the peculiar tourism potentials.
In attempt to create facilities that will house the visiting tourist in the state the state government under governor Jolly Nyame built the first ever standard hotel in the state capital, thus, Tarabit Motel.
The administration of Governor Danbaba Dabfulani Suntai, sought the approval of the state house of assembly to have the legal frame work on ground to market the state tourism industry and the Taraba state tourism development board law 2008 was passed and signed, and the board became operational.
The role of the federal government
The federal government under the administration of late president Yar,adua and former president Jonathan hosted the world tourism days in 2011 and 2013 respectively in terabit to compliment the state effort in exposing the potentials of the industry.
At the level of the federal government, the promises made at both occasions are yet to be realized, the airport on the Mambilla Plateau, the tourism academy and the construction of the federal government road leading to the state tourism destination are yet to be realized.
Taraba tourism under Nyame’s administration
Apart from the three stars hotel built by the first executive governor of the northeastern state, former governor Nyame revived the traditional Nwonyo fishing festival and up graded it to the international standard, the administration also initiated and completed the Jalingo airport.
Governor Suntai and the tourism industry
Former governor Danbaba Danfulani Suntai during his time co- sponsored the twice the hosting of the world tourism day in Terabit, he also rehabilitated the federal government trunk B road linking the other parts of the country to the tourism hub of the state, thus the mambilla plateau.
The former governor also extended the airport run way from 850 meters to 2.5 kilometers, he also constructed perimeter fence around the airport in accordance with the demands of the air transport safety agencies in the country.
The rescue, team consolidating tourism gains in the state
One of the campaign promises of Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku was that he will create wealth out of terabit using tourism, he again maintained this position when he took the oath of office at the jolly Nyame stadium on May 29th 2015, when he said he will turn terabit into a self sustaining state.
To march his words with action, on assumption of office the governor off set the accumulated power bills owed the power holding company of Nigeria, so that the state could have steady power supply to boost facilities in tourism and other economic growth according to him.
Water according to the governor is key to human existence and you cannot expect tourists to come to a state that has no water, the governor also empowered Tarabit state water board to ensure steady and clean water supply.
The partnership with Overland Airways
Air transport Governor Dickson Darius Ishaku said is key to enhancing comfort of commuters, that will facilitate the influx of tourists, business tycoons and of course investors by providing swift and safe access to the state for tourism, commerce and other business discussions with partners in Jalingo and other parts of the state.
He added that the transport sector under the rescue agenda will be given adequate attention as according to the Takum born governor air transport is the only key for now that will finally open Tarabit to the other parts of Nigeria and the world. And will improve value and effectiveness of the movement of goods and services in and out of the state.
All these he stated at the flag up of the commencement of the operation of commercial flight at the Jalingo airport by Overland airways. The governor thanked Overland airways for believing in the vision of his administration.
People’s reactions
The speaker Taraba state house of assembly, Hon. Abel Peter Diah told blueprint in an exclusive interview that, the flag up is a confirmation that if the PDP led administration in Tarabit make promises they also keep them.
Barr. Yusufu Nya Akirikwen, who is the state commissioner for justice and attorney general told reporters that, what has happened in the state airport project point to the fact that there is continuity in governance in the state as the life span of the project cut across all the three democratic administration that have ruled the state making the dream a reality.
The Attorneys General commend the spirit of commitment in the leaders that have ruled the state so far and called on other governments both at the federal and states to emulate the terabit example and Nigeria will be a better place.
The chief executive officer Overland airways, Captain Edward Boyo in his reaction said the company will commence daily flight by January 2016, he also said air transport is a wonderful thing as all other sectors of Taraba economy, according to him will pass through the Jalingo airport into the state to link it with the outside world.
The airways chief executive wandered why Jalingo will have such a beautiful airport but fly to other states before traveling for hours to their destination, he also informed the gathering that the company has flight schedules for Jalingo airport three times in a week, thus Monday, Wednesday and Fridays.
The former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state Dr. Abdulmumini Vaki in his reaction to the commercial flight project told Blueprint exclusively that the project is a waste of public funds, in his opinion less 99% of the people of the state can’t afford the flight fare and as such there was no need to invest such funds for the benefit of what he called a class of few.
