Taraba Refutes Report On ₦5.22bn Foreign Trip Expenditure In 6 Months

Taraba State government has firmly denied a recent media report alleging that Governor Agbu Kefas spent ₦5.22 billion on foreign trips within six months, describing the claim as “entirely false” and “deliberately misleading.”

The report, authored by journalist John Mkom and published in LEADERSHIP Newspaper, claimed that the governor incurred massive expenditures on international travel. It cited the state government website and data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) as sources.

In a statement signed yesterday and made available to LEADERSHIP, the commissioner for Information and Reorientation, Barr. Zainab Jalingo, dismissed the report as a mere fabrication with no basis in any official record.

“This claim is entirely false. It is not based on any official record and constitutes a gross misrepresentation of facts, deliberately presented to mislead the public,” the statement read.

The commissioner clarified that no such figure appeared on the state’s official portal, in its published budgets, or any dataset released by the NBS.

“We have checked and urged the public to do the same,” she added.

The government called on Mr Mkom to produce credible evidence – official documents bearing the appropriate authority – to substantiate his report, warning that unnamed sources and hearsay do not meet the standards of journalistic integrity.

“Until then, the ₦5.22 billion claim remains nothing but fiction,” she said.

The statement highlighted the achievements of the current administration and emphasised that Governor Kefas remains committed to the painstaking work of rebuilding the state after years of neglect. Key reforms in education, healthcare, and economic development were cited as evidence of progress.

“Transformation is a gradual process, requiring deliberate planning, tough choices, and sustained effort. The results are beginning to manifest,” the commissioner said.

The government urged the public to disregard the report and rely on official channels for accurate information, reaffirming its commitment to transparency, accountability, and truth.