By Terna Chikpa, Jalingo
The Special Adviser to Taraba State Governor, Dr Agbu Kefas, on E-Government and Digital Development Services, Hon. Ibrahim Luther Kitchener, has said his decision to contest for the House of Representatives seat for the Wukari/Ibi Federal Constituency is aimed at unlocking the area’s vast economic potential and projecting it to the global stage.
Speaking to journalists on Saturday in Jalingo, Kitchener lamented that despite the constituency’s rich natural resources and strategic location, it has remained largely underutilised, limiting its contribution to economic growth and national development.
He described Wukari/Ibi as one of Nigeria’s most underdeveloped yet promising regions, noting that it has the capacity to emerge as a major hub in the country’s Blue Economy sector.
According to him, the constituency’s extensive river networks, fisheries, fertile agricultural land, and tourism assets could attract significant local and foreign investment if the right partnerships and leadership are put in place.
“I am contesting for the House of Representatives seat to unlock the economic potential of my constituency, boost revenue and development, and create job opportunities for our youths,” he said.
“Wukari/Ibi can emerge as Nigeria’s Blue Economy hub. Despite our vast resources and strategic location, the area remains underutilised, hampering development and revenue generation.”
Kitchener explained that the development of marine transport, fish processing centres, cold-chain facilities, eco-tourism, and export hubs would transform the constituency economically.
“Our rivers can support marine transport, fish processing centres, cold-chain facilities, eco-tourism and export hubs. Both local and foreign investors are interested in places like this. What is missing is leadership that can engage and secure those partnerships,” he added.
The aspirant said his international work experience has given him insight into what global investors look for in emerging markets.
“I have worked with international teams and understand investor expectations. Wukari/Ibi has the location, the resources, and the youthful population. What we lack is strategic representation,” he said.
Kitchener, a former Information Manager and Senior Documents Controller in the United Kingdom, also unveiled plans to drive digital empowerment in the constituency by training at least 10,000 youths in software development, data analysis, digital marketing, artificial intelligence, and online freelancing.
“Our people must join the global economy, not remain spectators,” he stated.
He assured that the era of missed opportunities in Wukari/Ibi was coming to an end, warning that the constituency could not afford to slide further into irrelevance due to poor leadership.
Kitchener cited the abandoned Ibi Bridge project as a stark reminder of what he described as “generational stagnation” caused by leadership failure.
“Our forebears envisioned a connected and prosperous Wukari/Ibi. Today, the Ibi Bridge stands as a monument of neglect. Completing it would unlock trade between the North and the South, attract serious investors, and stimulate commerce and tourism,” he said.
On security, the governorship aide called for strengthened community policing, an improved federal security presence, and sustainable solutions to farmer-herder conflicts as part of a broader peacebuilding framework.
He also pledged targeted support for women traders, farmers, and artisans through grants, low-interest loans, and access to digital marketplaces.
“No society progresses when its women are economically excluded. Women and youths must be empowered to compete both locally and globally,” he said.
Kitchener stressed that Wukari/Ibi must not continue to lag behind while other constituencies leverage legislation and strategic partnerships to drive development.
“This is a defining moment. If we fail to act now, the world will move on without us. I am determined to change that narrative,” he added.
