Taraba tractor unit in dilemma as 15 year-old operational vehicle may pack off, office accommodation on verge of collapse

By Celestine Ihejirika, Jalingo

Operational activities of the Taraba State Tractor Hiring Unit may soon be grounded as the only 15 years old utility vehicle may soon pack off.

This has placed the management of the agency in a dilemma.

Also, the situation is not different from office blocks of the unit as management and staff now operating in fear following the dilapidated nature of the infrastructure which if urgent measures are not taken will collapse any moment from now.

Staff of the agency now operate under trees for fear of collapse.

Despite these challenges faced by management and staff of the agency, the attendance of staff on daily bases still remains unprecedented as none is found either absent or late to work.

Contacted on the situation, the General Manager of the agency, Engr. Danladi Shatalis told our correspondent that his major concern was lack of functional utility vehicles for embarking on a supervisory trip across the state.

According to him, the agency will require about three Hilux vehicles to achieve this purpose and to boost more than the targeted revenue generation for 2026 as expected by the state government.

He further pointed out that to achieve the set objective, the agency also needs better office accommodation as the current ones are overdue for rehabilitation.

Engr. Shatalis while appreciating Governor Agbu Kefas’ commitment and support to the agency since assumption of office, also appealed to him to come to their rescue to enable them make his administration proud particularly on revenue generation and food security.

He also revealed that the agency needs more tractors for bumper harvest and revenue generation, pointing out that the only two tractors in place will be stationed in Jalingo and the Lau local government areas.

On plans for dry season farming, the General Manager discarded the idea, citing challenges of utility vehicles and tractors.