The Taraba State Government has rejected claims that the state is currently burdened with about N1.2 trillion in debt, describing the figure as inaccurate and misleading.
Making the clarification over the weekend in Jalingo, the Commissioner for Finance, Sarah Adi, said discussions about the state’s finances must distinguish between existing debt stock, approved credit facilities, outstanding balances and financing arrangements that are yet to be disbursed.
According to the latest data from the Debt Management Office (DMO), Taraba’s domestic debt stood at N85.51 billion as of December 31, 2025.
“The figure represented a reduction of about N2.45 billion from the N87.96 billion domestic debt recorded in DMO data available before Governor Agbu Kefas assumed office,” Adi said.
She also clarified that the DMO publication released in March 2023 reflected Taraba’s debt position as of September 30, 2022, rather than its debt position at the time the report was published.
On external debt, the commissioner said the state’s obligations increased from about $46.47 million as of December 31, 2022, to approximately $48.04 million as of December 31, 2025.
Adi described the increase as relatively modest, while acknowledging the potential impact of foreign exchange fluctuations on external obligations.
The commissioner also addressed the N206.78 billion commercial bank financing facility approved by the Taraba State House of Assembly in 2023.
She said the facilities, involving Zenith Bank, United Bank for Africa, Fidelity Bank and Keystone Bank, were backed by designated revenue streams.
Adi stressed that the original approved value of a credit facility should not
