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Opinion: What Commissioners’ List Exposed About Taraba Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas
By Oluwatosin Alex
Taraba was agog yesterday when news had it that the executive governor of the state, Dr. Agbu Kefas has submitted the long-awaited commissioners list to the state house of assembly for screening. Some quarters have begun to raise eyebrows due to the Governor’s inability to release the list within his first month in office as promised but the selection of nominees unveiled yesterday wowed everyone including the opposition. It was indeed a reflection of the statement ‘It is not how far or how long but how well’’.
Of course, Dr. Agbu Kefas promised to constitute his executive cabinet within his first 30 days in office but considering the fact that He expressed his wish to upgrade the ‘ancient’ system of governance in the letters sent to stakeholders, advising them to focus on the youth and women population, it was expected to take a lot of time to adequately compile the list of nominees. At the end of the day, did the duration matter? Certainly No, but was the time worth it? A Big Yes!
Without mincing words, Dr. Agbu Kefas is the most talked about Governor in Nigeria at the moment on account of the many giant strides he has pulled since he was inaugurated. In barely 40 days in office, He has been able to revamp the education sector at all levels; He recently slashed the tuition fee in Taraba State University by 50% and declared primary and secondary school education free in the state. His work rate especially in the education sector has made even opposition parties to attest to the excellence he portrays in his style of governance. The health, economy, aviation, agriculture, and other sectors have experienced significant turn-around since Kefas’ emergence and these are some of the reasons the people can’t skip talking about him. The commissioners’ list was an icing on the cake and a confirmation of the premonition that Dr. Agbu Kefas will move Taraba forward.
During his campaign, Dr. Agbu Kefas unveiled Youths and Women Empowerment as part of his 5-point agenda for the people of Taraba state. Sincerely, ‘Youth and women empowerment’ can be best seen as a redundant point in the manifestoes of Nigerian politicians. Every intending political officer in Nigeria have included it in their agenda but after their election, they follow the same route of appointing the ‘old cargos’ into juicy positions. For decades, that has been the culture for politicians in Nigeria but for Dr. Agbu Kefas, the aura is different.
The list of commissioners which comprises of twenty-one indigenes of Taraba state from almost all the local governments have placed Dr. Agbu Kefas far above his counterparts in other states. As promised, the list contained only Youths and for the first time in the history of Taraba state, five women made the list of nominated candidates. If screened and confirmed by the house of assembly, Taraba state will be the only state to have efficient and capable youths as commissioners. Other states have condemned the youth population to SA and SSA positions but under Dr. Agbu Kefas administration in Taraba state, the youths are being given hefty platforms to contribute their quota to the development of the state.
Dr. Agbu Kefas’ intention for the youths was first demonstrated with the there-day economic, youth and security submit which held two weeks after inauguration. The summit which is the first of its kind in the northeast zone was organized mainly for the youth population. At the summit, the governor revealed that the youths will have at least 80% of appointments in his administration and surely, the promise has been kept!
Since his emergence as Governor of Taraba state, Dr. Agbu Kefas has not for once hidden his love for the youth population. Most of his actions have been channeled towards enhancing the growth of the youth population and giving them platforms to unleash their hidden potentials.
Apart from the fact that the choice of commissioners further proves that this administration is focused on the youths, it also exposes the character of Dr. Agbu Kefas as a man who stands by his words even in the face of strong oppositions.
Even though he has promised to include youths in his administration, there were predictions that the list of commissioners will be hijacked by party stakeholders since the governor left them the responsibility to nominate candidates. It was widely believed that party stakeholders will influence the governor to compromise his decision to give the youth a larger share but alas, it came out well as planned.
By standing his ground to ensure the youths make the list, the toughness in the face of adversity, sagacity, fierceness, fearlessness, strength, and commitment of Dr. Agbu Kefas has been exposed.
May Taraba Succeed.
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From Construction Sites to Community Service: Temitope Akinyemi Emerges as a Model of Leadership and Impact
Energy experts in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector have defended the pricing structure of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, accusing some fuel markers of attempting to blackmail the refinery and mislead the public over the recent increase in petrol prices.
The experts said reports suggesting that the refinery’s latest adjustment is solely responsible for the recent hike in fuel prices were misleading, noting that importers are also bringing in petrol at almost a N1,000 per litre, while the refinery’s coastal price is N948 and the gantry or ex-depot price stands at N995 per litre.
They stressed that public comparisons fail to consider the differences in pricing structures and supply channels.
According to the experts, N948 per litre represents the coastal delivery price, which refers to petroleum products transported by marine vessels or barges from the refinery to depots along the coastline. On the other hand, N995 per litre represents the gantry or ex-depot price, which is the rate paid by marketers who load petrol directly from the refinery into tanker trucks at the loading gantry for onward distribution across the country.
The experts explained that the two figures should not be interpreted as conflicting prices but rather as different logistics arrangements within the petroleum distribution chain.
Speaking with our correspondent on Sunday, energy expert David Okon said the pricing adjustments were inevitable given prevailing market conditions.
According to him, Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals operates in a deregulated market and procures crude at international prices, which have risen sharply due to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
“The refinery is already absorbing part of the cost to cushion the impact of the crisis on Nigerians. We can see what is happening in other parts of the world where shortages and scarcity are being reported despite higher prices, yet the Dangote Refinery has continued to guarantee domestic supply,” he said.
Okon explained that when the refinery previously sold petrol at N774 per litre, crude oil was landing at about $68 per barrel. However, with crude now arriving at roughly $95 per barrel, the cost difference of about $27 per barrel translates to nearly N40,000 per barrel when converted to Naira.
“You cannot expect a refinery to continue selling at the old rate under those circumstances,” he added.
“If imported products were truly cheaper, importers would still be selling at the previous prices.”
He warned that without local refining capacity, Nigeria could have faced severe fuel shortages, long queues at filling stations and a resurgence of black market sales.
“Without the Dangote Refinery, many filling stations would likely shut down, queues would return across the country and black market traders would exploit the situation, hawking four litres keg at N20,000 or more. The refinery has effectively prevented that scenario,” he said.
Another analyst, Mohammed Ibrahim, also faulted narratives circulating in some quarters suggesting that the refinery’s pricing adjustment was responsible for worsening economic hardship in the country.
Accusing some importers of attempting to manipulate public perception, he said, “What we are seeing is nothing but deliberate blackmail by some fuel importers who feel threatened by local refining.
“They are twisting the pricing structure to mislead Nigerians and create unnecessary panic in the market.
“By exaggerating the refinery’s gantry price and ignoring the comparable costs of imported fuel, they are trying to make it appear as though Dangote Refinery is the cause of rising prices and economic hardship. This is a calculated attempt to protect their import businesses and undermine local refining, which is meant to reduce our dependence on imported petrol.”
Ibrahim added that such narratives were aimed at portraying the refinery as the reason Nigerians were struggling with higher petrol prices.
He stressed that petrol pricing in Nigeria is largely influenced by global crude oil prices, exchange rate fluctuations, and distribution logistics, noting that these factors affect both locally refined and imported fuel in the country’s deregulated market.
Afolabi Olowookere, Managing Director and Chief Economist at Analysts’ Data Services and Resources (ADSR) Limited, explained that although Nigerians expect refined products from the refinery to be significantly cheaper, prevailing market realities such as global crude oil prices, the cost of crude supply and refining margins make substantial price reductions unlikely in the short term.
“Therefore, improving domestic crude allocation to the refinery would strengthen supply stability and enhance the long term benefits of local refining for the economy,” Olowookere noted.
Recent conflicts in the Middle East and disruptions along key shipping lanes have tightened global oil supply, pushing crude prices past $90 per barrel, a development that directly raises the cost of both imported and locally refined petrol in Nigeria.
The unrest has pushed up fuel costs and transportation in several countries, including Ghana, the United States, the United Kingdom, South Africa, India, Canada, Brazil, Germany, France, and Japan, as rising crude prices increase the cost of refining, distribution, and logistics globally.
CHETACHI NWOGA-ECTON EMPOWERS 300 WIDOWS IN IMO
A renowned humanitarian and proud daughter of Mbaise in Imo State, High Chief (Dr.) Princess Chetachi Nwoga-Ecton, has empowered over 300 widows and vulnerable women across the Owerri Zone, in a remarkable demonstration of compassion and service to humanity.
The empowerment programme, which took place at the Palace of the Eze of Ngor Okpala, HRH Eze Engr. Fredrick Nwachukwu, brought together community leaders, traditional rulers, women groups and beneficiaries from different communities within the zone.
During the event, the widows received food materials and cash support, aimed at helping them meet basic needs and strengthen their small-scale businesses.
The initiative was widely applauded as a timely intervention to support women who often face severe economic hardship after losing their spouses.
Many of the beneficiaries expressed heartfelt appreciation to High Chief (Dr.) Nwoga-Ecton, describing the empowerment as a lifeline that would help them take better care of their families.
Some widows, while offering prayers for the philanthropist, noted that the gesture had restored hope and dignity in their lives.
Fondly known as Ada Imo and Adaure, High Chief (Dr.) Princess Chetachi Nwoga-Ecton has earned widespread admiration for her consistent humanitarian efforts both within Nigeria and internationally.
Through her philanthropic activities and foundations, she has continued to support widows, children, and vulnerable communities with interventions in healthcare, welfare and economic empowerment.
Community stakeholders who attended the programme commended the Mbaise-born philanthropist for her generosity and dedication to uplifting the less privileged, noting that her actions reflect true leadership and compassion.
Observers say the initiative further reinforces her growing reputation as one of the most impactful humanitarians of this generation, whose commitment to humanity continues to inspire hope across Imo State and beyond.
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