…Billed to hit International Market.
by Christiana Gokyo, Jos
The Plateau State Governor, Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang says Plateau’s coffee will hit international markets soon, also revealing that a Coffee Festival is coming to Jos.
While speaking to journalists in Jos at Government House, Little Rayfield on Tuesday in an interactive section with Journalists to mark his two years of office, Mutfwang reiterated that, “Farmers abandoned coffee years ago due to lack of market; now marketers are waiting.”
“We are also reviving flower production and palm oil, and testing fodder grass like Napier and Brachiaria. Brachiaria is highly profitable – and once we scale, we can export to the Middle East, where they currently import from Argentina and Mexico,” he stressed.
“With the cargo airport, shipping from Plateau will take under six hours, instead of 13. We are also building capacity for tourism, reviving Plateau Hotel and Hill Station Hotel through private partnerships. Government’s role is to create the environment for the private sector to thrive.”
The governor pointed out that, “On assumption of office on May 29, 2023, the Ministry of Transport was in a state of severe deterioration due to years of neglect under the previous administration.”
He stressed that, the transportation infrastructure across the state: road, air, and rail – had virtually collapsed, contributing significantly to the State’s economic downturn. In pursuit of revitalizing the state’s economy and attracting investors to harness its vast potential, honoring his electoral pledges, implemented a comprehensive transportation revival strategy across multiple domains.
Governor Mutfwang explained that, a decisive step by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with ValueJet Aviation Limited to develop critical air routes: Abuja-Jos Route; Lagos-Jos Route, by the Commissioner for Transport, Mr. Davou Jatau Gyang, endorsed the MoU on behalf of the State Government.
“This strategic partnership has yielded significant benefits: Drastically reduced travel time, between Jos and major cities – established daily flights on the Lagos-Jos route – broken the monopoly on ticket pricing, making air travel more affordable; and expansion of Air Routes,” he stressed.
The governor also noted that, “The administration is currently in discussions with several airline operators to initiate Eastern and South/Southern routes for commuters traveling to-and-from Jos, which will further integrate Plateau State into the national air transportation network; Airport Infrastructure Enhancement to improve safety and emergency response capabilities at the Yakubu Gowon Airport.”
According to the governor, “The administration has donated a fully-equipped ambulance to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN); refurbished a state-of-the-art firefighting truck, now strategically positioned at the Airport Rail.”
Not long ago, the Mutfwang Administration brokered a landmark agreement with the Nigerian Railway Corporation to rejuvenate the dormant rail transport system – in recognition of the economic potentials of rail transportation.
“This initiative was strategically timed to mitigate the harsh impact of fuel subsidy removal on residents. The revitalized train service connecting Jos Terminal to Kuru has been successfully tested and is expected to: Stimulate economic activity through new investments – Strengthen commerce and enhance tourism – Create numerous employment opportunities across construction, rail operations, engineering, and customer-service sectors – Decongest busy roadways.
“This will facilitate easier movement of agricultural produce, from villages to the Yakubu Gowon Airport. This development serves as a precursor to the planned expansion of rail lines across various regions of the state, which will further enhance the movement of goods and passengers, Urban Transit Modernization.”
He explained that, the administration has successfully completed the pilot-phase of the Public Transport Management System at Hill Station and Plateau Hospital Roundabouts.
Mutfwang noted that, “This initiative aims to streamline the transportation network throughout the 17 local government areas, creating a more efficient transit experience for residents, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Initiative, aligning with Federal Government’s energy policies.”
The governor emphasized that, “The Ministry of Transport is in advanced discussions with the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT) to establish a CNG conversion center at Government Technical and Science College (GTSC), Bukuru, as a temporary site – planning to provide land to GreenVille Limited for the establishment of a Mega Station for CNG/LNG that will serve Plateau State and neighboring states in the northeastern region.
On Water Transportation Enhancement, the governor revealed that, “The State Government, through the Ministry of Transport, has received a speed-boat from the Hydro Electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC). This vessel will be deployed to the River Ibi, facilitating safe and seamless movement of Plateau citizens to-and-from Wukari, Taraba State.”
Governor Mutfwang explained further that, Plateau Express Services Transformation, under the leadership of Group Managing Director/CEO, Hon. Samuel J. Gwott, has undergone remarkable revitalization.
Tin City Metro Initiative First-Phase was launched by Governor Mutfwang on May 7, 2024, introducing 15 modern MAN-Diesel buses equipped with advanced features: Near Field Communication (NFC) technology – Secure Card payment systems – Comprehensive Video monitoring systems – Enhanced passenger safety features.
“Due to overwhelming public demand, the administration has procured an additional 15 Tin City Metro buses for the second phase, scheduled for launch before the second quarter of 2025.
“New Routes Expansion have been mapped to extend services to previously underserved areas within the metropolis, Zawan-Heipang-Kugiya Mini Terminal-JUTH-Bukuru-Terminus-Polo-Rukuba Barracks-Bukuru-VomInter-State Transportation Enhancement.”
He has made significant investments in inter-state transportation: Refurbished 15 buses for long-distance travel, now serving major routes, including Jos, Bayelsa, Warri, Akwa Ibom, Port-Harcourt, Enugu, Kano, and Kaduna.
Twenty (20) Toyota Sienna vehicles with security enhancements for the Jos-Abuja route were acquired, commissioned by Deputy Governor, Mrs. Josephine Piyo. Refurbished 20 14-seater Toyota Hiace buses equipped with tracking devices and audio surveillance capabilities Digital Transformation.
Plateau Express Service Limited has launched a fully responsive corporate website, providing: Detailed information about the company and its management team – Comprehensive service offerings – Contact options and FAQs – News updates and social media integration – Real-time interaction capabilities between customers and staff, Economic Impact and Employment Generation.
The modernization of Plateau Express Services has created substantial employment opportunities to 149 staff members employed during the first-phase of the Metro Bus Service – an additional 115 personnel to be recruited in the second phase. This will bring a total employment generation exceeding 500 individuals; significant multiplier effect among ad-hoc and contract staff.
This comprehensive transformation of the Ministry of Transport and its associated services demonstrates Governor Mutfwang’s commitment to developing modern, efficient, and sustainable transportation systems that serve as catalysts for economic growth across Plateau.