By Hope Ikwe, Jos
Plateau State governor, Simon Lalong, has unveiled the vision for his second tenure which he said is anchored on three policy thrusts of peace, security and good governance; physical infrastructural development and sustainable economic rebirth.
At a town hall meeting in Jos Wednesday, Lalong said: “We have deliberately resolved to review the vision into three policy thrusts to enable us focus and concentrate our limited resources in achieving more service delivery. In addition, we have carefully woven all the critical sectors of the Plateau economy and society into these three-point policy direction to ensure that we lay foundation for sustainable growth and development for the future of our dear state”.
To ensure peace, security and good governance, the Lalong administration plans to run an all inclusive government, enable the implementation of the Strategic Road Map for Peace and the Community Security through the Peace Building Agency, ensure the full take off of the Mobile Police Force Barracks in Gashish, Barikin Ladi LGA and in Longvel, Shendam LGA and ensure the total return of all Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to their original places of abode before the end of the first year of the administration.
In regards to infrastructural development, the government reiterated its commitment to “focusing attention and available resources on the completion of all inherited infrastructure projects that cut across key sectors of the state”.
According to the governor, his administration will “Identify and prioritize new infrastructural projects that have significant multiplier potential”, complete the Main Bowl of the Zaria Road Stadium, commence the construction work on the Jos Main Market redevelopment project and revive the state sanitation of the city.
The planning of the infrastructural development projects, he disclosed, will be categorized into short, medium and long terms of the next six months, two years and entire four years, respectively.
Lalong said even though the last four years was quite challenging economically, the next four years should be devoted to putting in place policies and strategies that will generate necessary financial resources that will fund development without relying exclusively on the federation account allocations.
“Efforts will be streamlined, and our competitive advantages explored to the fullest. A strategic development plan that outlines a clear road map for the future is being prepared and an Economic Summit has been planned for the second quarter of this year”.
Considering the shortfall in oil revenue, the administration intends to generate a minimum of N2.5 biilion per month or N50 billion per annum in the next four years, exploit the state’s resources and endowment, encourage commercial agriculture and food processing, revamp agricultural services training and Plateau Agricultural Development Programme and most importantly, ” place emphasis in creating more conducive and enabling environment for business to thrive”.
