By Terna Chikpa
Business owners in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, have appealed to Governor Agbu Kefas to be more considerate by allowing people to continue operating their businesses in properties he has acquired, pending future development.
The businessmen spoke amid the displacement of several traders from locations allegedly acquired by the governor, particularly along major streets in Jalingo.
They said the development was gradually becoming a security concern, as it was rendering many young people jobless.
The businessmen appealed to the governor to reconsider his decision regarding colleagues who have been displaced from different locations since 2024, while many of the acquired properties are yet to be developed.
They also urged the governor to remember his background as a minister of God and always approach such situations with a God-fearing spirit and compassion.
“I wish to appeal to Governor Agbu Kefas to always remember his background as a man of God and be considerate whenever such situations arise.
“The displacement of people who are genuinely struggling to earn a living from properties he has acquired is demoralising,” one of the businessmen, Frank Yohana, said.
Another trader, Mr Joseph Kanawa, who sells motor parts, and Alhaji Isa Sadiq Umar, who deals in cosmetics and women’s wear, also appealed to the governor to be considerate of existing traders operating in places where he eventually acquires property.
“We are not against the governor buying strategically located properties along the streets of Jalingo. Our appeal is for him to consider and encourage the genuine efforts of young citizens striving to escape poverty.
“We appeal that wherever he acquires land that he does not intend to develop immediately, he should allow those doing business there to continue rather than displacing them.”
Meanwhile, some of the displaced traders narrated their experiences after they were asked to vacate their premises within seven days.
“We were displaced three years ago from Flickers Bar, where we were carrying out various businesses. One evening, two young men came and issued us a seven-day notice to vacate the premises. They told us that Governor Agbu Kefas had purchased the property and did not want anyone to continue operating any business there.
“We collectively made efforts to approach the governor through certain influential individuals to consider our situation, but all our efforts failed.
“In fact, one of the people we contacted told us that the governor would not be using the property for another five years. He tried calling the governor, but his number was busy. He assured us that he would present our case to the governor for consideration since the property would not be developed immediately.
“After seven days, the men returned and extended the notice by another three days. We mobilised again and went back to the governor’s political associate, who had promised to assist us. Unfortunately, he later advised us to vacate the premises and look for another location.
“Since then, life has been challenging because some of us have not found suitable locations to continue our businesses,” the displaced traders at the former Flickers Bar said.
Other affected traders, including those at Lassandi Junction, opposite the Jolly Nyame Stadium, and several other locations, said the situation had thrown them into hardship since they were displaced in 2025 and had yet to secure suitable locations for their businesses.
Meanwhile, two traders operating along the Jalingo-Yola Road expressed fear that the governor’s representatives had approached their landlord to negotiate the purchase of the property.
They appealed to the governor to allow them to continue with their businesses pending when he may wish to develop the land, should he eventually acquire it.
“We wish to humbly appeal to our governor that if he eventually buys the property where we are currently operating, he should allow us to remain and continue earning our livelihood.
“We have been told that our landlords are negotiating to sell the land to the governor. We have seen the governor’s representatives visiting the property, and we are already living in fear.
“Some of us have not even recovered the money we invested here. We are afraid of being displaced. We appeal that if the governor or anyone else eventually purchases the property, they should consider our situation and allow us to stay,” they said.
