The Taraba State Government has dismissed reports claiming that the state’s debt portfolio has risen to ₦1.2 trillion, describing the figure as inaccurate and unsupported by official records.
The Commissioner for Finance, Dr Sarah Adi Enoch, made the clarification during a press briefing in Jalingo, where she said the state’s recognised debt position is based on the latest available figures from the Debt Management Office (DMO).
According to the commissioner, Taraba’s domestic debt stood at ₦85.51 billion as of December 31, 2025, rather than the ₦1.2 trillion being circulated.
She said the current domestic debt represents a reduction of about ₦2.45 billion from the approximately ₦87.96 billion reported before Governor Agbu Kefas assumed office.
Dr Sarah also explained that the DMO’s March 2023 publication, which had been referenced in some reports, reflected Taraba’s debt position as of September 30, 2022, rather than the state’s current debt position.
On external debt, she said DMO records put Taraba’s obligations at approximately $46.47 million as of December 31, 2022, compared with $48.04 million as of December 31, 2025.
The commissioner acknowledged the exchange-rate risks associated with foreign currency obligations but maintained that the movement in the state’s external debt remained relatively modest.
She assured residents that the state government would continue to ensure that external borrowing remains within sustainable limits and consistent with its capacity to repay.
The government urged the public to rely on official debt records when assessing Taraba’s financial position and to disregard figures it considers misleading.
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