The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Taraba State, Danjuma Usman Shiddi, popularly known as Danji SS, has unveiled a 10-point development agenda outlining his proposed approach to addressing the state’s major challenges ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
The manifesto, tagged “Rescue Taraba,” identifies water supply, quality education, security, agriculture, healthcare, road infrastructure, youth and women’s empowerment, job creation and industrial development, transparent governance, and unity and inclusion as its ten priority areas.
Shiddi said his proposed administration would prioritise practical development programmes, responsible management of public resources and measurable results, maintaining that government performance should ultimately be judged by its impact on the lives of citizens.
WATER FOR TARABA: EXPANDING ACCESS TO SAFE DRINKING WATER
Under the first pillar, Water for Taraba, the APGA candidate pledged to rehabilitate existing water facilities, expand community-based water supply schemes and promote solar-powered boreholes where feasible.
He said improving access to safe drinking water would help address the challenges facing households and communities while contributing to better public health and living conditions.
QUALITY EDUCATION: REHABILITATING SCHOOLS AND DEVELOPING SKILLS
The second pillar focuses on improving the quality of education through the rehabilitation of dilapidated school buildings, the provision of furniture and learning materials, and stronger teacher training programmes.
Shiddi also proposed expanding technical and vocational education to equip young people with practical skills and improve their readiness for employment and entrepreneurship.
Under the third pillar, Security and Safe Communities, the candidate proposed stronger collaboration with security agencies, community-based intelligence gathering and early-warning mechanisms to prevent and respond to security threats.
He also emphasised the need to protect farming communities and economic corridors, arguing that improved security would support agricultural production, commercial activities and the movement of people and goods.
AGRICULTURE AND RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
The fourth pillar seeks to strengthen agriculture through improved access to farm inputs, agricultural extension services, irrigation, storage facilities and markets.
Shiddi also proposed supporting agro-processing and agricultural enterprises to increase value addition, reduce post-harvest losses and create more economic opportunities for farmers and rural communities.
The fifth pillar focuses on strengthening primary healthcare centres, improving access to essential medicines and medical equipment, and upgrading selected secondary healthcare facilities.
The manifesto also prioritises maternal and child healthcare, with the stated objective of improving access to essential health services and strengthening healthcare delivery across the state.
Under the sixth pillar, Roads, Bridges and Connectivity, Shiddi pledged to prioritise the rehabilitation of critical roads and bridges linking rural communities with markets, schools, hospitals and other economic centres.
The proposed approach is intended to improve transportation, facilitate trade, reduce travel difficulties and connect underserved communities to essential services and economic opportunities.
YOUTH AND WOMEN’S ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT
The seventh pillar centres on skills acquisition, vocational training, entrepreneurship support, digital enterprise and improved access to legitimate financing opportunities for young people and women.
Shiddi said empowering these groups would be essential to expanding economic participation, promoting self-reliance and creating pathways to sustainable livelihoods.
JOB CREATION, INVESTMENT AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT
The eighth pillar outlines plans to attract private-sector investment, support local businesses, promote agro-processing and encourage public-private partnerships.
The proposed measures are intended to stimulate industrial growth, expand employment opportunities and create a more supportive environment for businesses and entrepreneurs operating in Taraba State.
Under the ninth pillar, Transparent and Accountable Government, the APGA candidate pledged greater transparency in public procurement, improved financial accountability, independent monitoring of major projects and the publication of relevant government information, subject to legal requirements.
The manifesto presents accountability as a central element of effective governance, with an emphasis on ensuring that public resources are properly managed and government projects deliver value to citizens.
The tenth pillar focuses on equitable development, peaceful coexistence and inclusive governance across Taraba State.
Shiddi pledged to promote balanced development across geographical areas, strengthen relations among ethnic and religious communities, encourage regular consultation with citizens and make public appointments based on merit, competence and inclusion.
The agenda underscores the importance of ensuring that all communities have opportunities to participate in governance and benefit from public investment.
DANJI SS PROPOSES 100-DAY ASSESSMENT OF TARABA’S DEVELOPMENT NEEDS
To guide implementation of the proposed agenda, Shiddi pledged that his administration would undertake an assessment of the state’s infrastructure, schools, healthcare facilities, security situation, agricultural support systems, public finances and ongoing projects within its first 100 days in office.
According to the manifesto, the findings would inform government priorities, budgetary decisions, implementation timelines and performance indicators.
The candidate said the approach would provide a basis for tracking progress and measuring success through tangible improvements in people’s lives.
RESCUE TARABA: FROM MANIFESTO TO IMPLEMENTATION
The unveiling of the 10-point agenda places development priorities at the centre of Danji SS’s campaign as political parties begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
The proposals address key areas affecting residents, including access to water, education, healthcare, security, agricultural productivity, infrastructure and employment.
However, the practical impact of the agenda would depend on the availability of funding, the capacity of public institutions, implementation timelines and effective monitoring of government programmes.
As the political contest gathers momentum, voters will have the opportunity to examine the competing parties’ manifestos, compare their proposed solutions and assess how clearly each candidate explains the delivery of promised projects and services.
For Shiddi and the APGA campaign, the challenge will be to translate the Rescue Taraba manifesto into a credible, costed and implementable development programme capable of delivering measurable improvements across the state.
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