A wave of anger is sweeping through Wukari as landowners whose properties were acquired for the Federal University Wukari project have accused the Taraba State Government of abandoning its compensation obligations, leaving families in financial distress and disrupting the educational fabric of the host community.
In a statement released in Jalingo on Sunday, the aggrieved landowners, represented by their legal counsel, Barrister P. M. Shagnah, criticized the state government for failing to fulfill its commitment to pay the agreed ₦205 million compensation. The settlement, reached after a post-judgment agreement in 2023, stipulated that the funds would be disbursed in seven installments from December 2023 to July 2024. However, with July 2025 now underway, approximately ₦80 million remains unpaid.
Shagnah stated that while Governor Agbu Kefas has made partial payments in compliance with a ruling by the Taraba State High Court, the government’s failure to complete the payments has pushed many affected families into poverty. The delay, he said, has not only crippled livelihoods but also forced some students to drop out of school due to a lack of financial support.
“Despite numerous appeals, the state government has continued to neglect its responsibility,” Shagnah said. “The affected landowners have reached the end of their patience. We call on Governor Kefas to act swiftly and honor the remaining commitment to prevent further suffering.”
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According to the legal representative, the unpaid compensation has created a ripple effect in the community, stalling local development efforts and fueling public frustration. He warned that continued neglect could deepen the socio-economic crisis already taking root in Wukari and escalate tensions among displaced families.
The Federal University Wukari, seen as a beacon of development and opportunity for Taraba State, now finds itself at the center of a growing controversy. What was once celebrated as a transformative project is now mired in allegations of government indifference and betrayal of trust.
Community members say the government’s failure to meet its obligations undermines confidence in future development initiatives and threatens the peaceful coexistence of stakeholders in the area. With mounting pressure from legal representatives and affected families, all eyes are now on the Taraba State Government to resolve the matter before tensions spiral out of control.
