by Christiana Gokyo, Jos
The Plateau State Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Hon. Silvanus Dongtoe, has made an on-the-spot visit to some projects under his ministry.
During the visit, the commissioner asserted that, “The essence of the visit is to assess the progress of work going on and to share with the world what the Plateau State Government, under the leadership of Barr. Caleb Mutfwang, is doing to change the state’s landscape and improve the lives of its citizens.”
Areas covered during the inspection tour of projects being executed under his ministry include, among others, Solomon Lar Amusement Park, Bisichi Housing and a bridge at Lyoh Rak Gyel linking Yango Gyel and Metro Bus Terminal.
He said, “It’s deliberate, because we want the world to see what we are doing, and we are working to achieve that, to make sure these areas have a befitting look. If you recall, the government came with the intention to develop the tourism sector, and quite a lot has been done.
Stressing further, he said, “For example, the leasing of the Plateau Hotel and Hill Station Hotel, efforts have also been made to ensure the Amusement Park – one of the tourist sites in Plateau State – gets that much-needed facelift.
“The premise has been in a very favorable situation, and we felt it was necessary for us, as a ministry, to step in and see that it’s taken further. I’m sure, after construction, you will see that place sporting a new look,” he stressed.
Hon. Dongtoe further explained that, “For the Bisichi site, a lot has been said about the Housing Scheme. As part of our effort to see that this is realized, there’s collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Housing and Planning.
“The government has made the decision to acquire land, and one of the conditions for us was to clear the site, so the long-awaited groundbreaking can take place. We’ve been in touch with the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development regarding our progress.
“We are expecting that, in the coming days or weeks, funds will be provided and made available, so that the groundbreaking will finally take place.
“While for the Metro Bus Terminal, if you look around, you can see that this area has been designated as the most convenient place for parking. The buses at the terminal on Murtala Mohammed Way don’t have a sufficient parking space, which affects the safety and organization of the buses,” he stated.
According to him, “This location has been selected as the most convenient space for parking, especially since we now have more buses and, recently, there was additional new buses. So, the need for a more accommodating and well-constructed terminal is crucial,” he noted.
The commissioner pointed out that, they want to make the area more comfortable and convenient for parking, as well as for bus maintenance.
He expressed delight that, he is quite satisfied with work going on, despite the rains which have been a factor, adding that, “This work is very urgent; that is why we are handling it at a direct labour.
“If it weren’t for one or two issues with the design and approval, we would have completed it by now. The rains have also been a factor, as it affects leveling, stone-basing, and surface-dressing, but the rain is the main reason for the delay.
“The project is vital because the buses are currently elsewhere, and this place is meant specifically for them. We hope to hand over this space to the management of Metro Buses very soon.
“Looking at the bridge construction, we can see the excitement on the faces of the community members linking Gyel and other surrounding areas.
“It’s going to significantly improve transportation in that region. We’ve been assured that in the next few weeks, that place will be ready, and regular movement between the communities will be restored,” he stated.
The commissioner added that, “As for the site clearing, the main goal is to clear the shrubs. In the next few days, we expect to complete this and wait for further instructions.
Regarding the bridge site, he said, “It’s concrete work, and there is a specific time-frame for the concrete to cure. The work is precast, which means, we must wait for the right time to proceed.
“We advice the contractors to stick to the agreed time frame, as we’ve worked with serious contractors. We trust they will do everything possible to complete the job as expected,” he noted.
Some of the contractors, who spoke to newsman during the inspection tour, said, they will try and stick to the time-frame, despite the rains.