Jalingo Times.

By Jako Keke,  August 30, 2026. The Mumuye Cultural Development Association Youth Wing (MCDAYW) has dissolved its existing State Executive Councils in Taraba and Adamawa States, paving the way for fresh elections within the next 40 days. The decision was taken at the Association’s Extraordinary Annual General Meeting (EAGM), held on August 29, 2026, at Mumuye House, Mile Six, Jalingo, Taraba State. The meeting, which attracted representatives and stakeholders from various chapters, deliberated on issues bordering on the unity, administration, development and future direction of the youth wing. In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting and signed by the National Public Relations Officer, Joachim Anthony Boduganian, Congress said the dissolution of the two state executives was necessary to create room for “fresh, credible and inclusive elections” capable of strengthening the democratic structures of the association. To oversee the electoral proces...

By Jako Keke,  August 29, 2026 | Jalingo The Taraba State Ministry of Environment and Climate Change is witnessing a remarkable transformation, emerging as one of the state’s increasingly visible and result-oriented government institutions under the leadership of its Commissioner, Hon. Aisha A. Barde . Once regarded by some observers as a relatively low-profile ministry in the affairs of the state, the ministry has, in recent months, begun to attract attention through improved visibility, institutional activity and measurable performance. A major indication of the ministry’s changing fortunes was its performance at the maiden Quarterly Revenue Performance Review organised by the Taraba State Internal Revenue Service (TIRS) for Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). Figures presented during the review showed that the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change significantly exceeded its revenue target for the first half of 2026. The ministry had a first-quar...

By Jako Keke, August 29, 2026. The Sharing Education and Learning for Life (SELL) Foundation Nigeria, in collaboration with the Foundation for Peace, Hope and Conflict Management and the Vigilante Group of Nigeria, Taraba State Command, has organised a one-day training programme aimed at strengthening community security, peacebuilding and conflict prevention. The training, held at the headquarters of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria in Jalingo, focused on early warning mechanisms and proactive responses to emerging security threats. The programme was designed to equip members of the vigilante group with the knowledge and skills required to identify potential threats, provide timely early warnings and respond appropriately before such threats escalate into violent conflicts. Participants were taken through interactive sessions and discussions facilitated by experienced peacebuilding practitioners, Emmanuel Kini and Maryam Adamu Lanko. Speaking during the training, Kini Emmanue...

By Jako Keke,  August 29, 2026.  The Association of Local Government Council Secretaries of Nigeria (ALGOCSN), Taraba State Chapter, has intensified engagement with key political and institutional stakeholders as part of efforts to strengthen grassroots governance and development across the state’s 16 Local Government Areas. The engagement followed the association’s three-day extraordinary forum meeting in Jalingo and was conducted from August 26 to 28, 2026, under the leadership of its State Chairman, Hon. Clarkson Andrew Nariniba. During the courtesy visits, the delegation met with the Chairman of the Taraba State House of Assembly Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Rt. Hon. Abel Peter Diah; Director-General of the Kefas Campaign Organisation 2027, Hon. Danladi Baido; Speaker of the Taraba State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Kizito Bonzena Anthony; Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Taraba State Chapter, Hon. Mo...

By Jako Keke, August 29, 2026. The Provost of the Taraba State College of Nursing Sciences, Jalingo, Dr. Mrs. Dorcas S. Dugule, has commended Governor Agbu Kefas for what she described as people-oriented policies and interventions in the education sector. Dugule made the commendation in a goodwill message issued to mark the 35th anniversary of the creation of Taraba State. The Provost, who spoke on behalf of the management, staff and students of the College, congratulated Governor Kefas and the people of Taraba on the milestone anniversary, describing it as an opportunity to reflect on the state's journey and celebrate its achievements. She particularly highlighted the governor's 50 per cent reduction in school fees, saying the policy had expanded access to education for brilliant students from less-privileged backgrounds. According to her, the administration's intervention in the education sector goes beyond fee reduction, noting that contractors had retur...

By Keke Jako, August 29, 2026. Before the morning sun could fully settle over Jalingo, the usual bustle of the Taraba State capital began to take a different shape. Roads and public spaces that ordinarily witness the movement of people and vehicles became scenes of coordinated environmental activity as residents, environmental workers and security personnel joined hands in the monthly sanitation exercise. At major road junctions, public places, malls and office premises, sweepers of the Taraba State Environmental Sanitation Agency (TSESA) were seen clearing dirt and sweeping their surroundings. For many residents, the exercise was more than a routine government programme. It was a reminder that the responsibility for a clean city cannot rest entirely on the government. The latest exercise recorded massive compliance across Jalingo metropolis, with residents turning out en masse to clean their homes, business premises and immediate surroundings. Officials of TSESA also moved...

By Education Correspondent, August  28, 2026. Taraba State Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas, has rewarded students from the state who emerged champions at the 2026 International Debate Championship in Rwanda with a cash gift of ₦5 million each. The Governor hosted the young champions to a dinner at the Banquet Hall of Government House, Jalingo, where he celebrated their outstanding performance and described the feat as a proud moment for Taraba and Nigeria. Kefas said the students’ victory had brought honour to the state and demonstrated the capacity of Taraba youths to excel on the international stage. As part of his administration’s Moving Forward Agenda and commitment to educational advancement, the cash rewards were presented on the Governor’s behalf by the Executive Chairperson of the Taraba State Universal Basic Education Board (TSUBEB), Hon. Christiana Binga. The presentation, held at the TSUBEB headquarters in Jalingo, was witnessed by board members, directo...

As November election draws closer, Bishop Ande Emmanuel says the church’s process—not personal endorsement—will determine the new Bishop. By Keke Jako, Religion Correspondent, August 28, 2026. In church politics, succession is rarely just about who occupies a seat. It is often about influence, continuity, trust, theology, administration and, sometimes, the direction an institution takes after a change of leadership. That reality is beginning to unfold within the United Methodist Church in Nigeria (UMCN) as the denomination prepares for the election of a new Bishop for its newly created Episcopal Area. With November approaching, speculation over possible successors has intensified, with names of senior clergy increasingly featuring in conversations among church members and stakeholders. But one man whose endorsement could potentially influence the contest has publicly denied throwing his weight behind any aspirant. Bishop Ande Emmanuel, who currently provides episcopal leadershi...