Plateau government to spend 44% of 2020 budget on capital projects

By Hope Ikwe, Jos

Plateau State government has allocated the sum of N78.597 billion, representing 44.31% of the total 2020 budget estimate on infrastructural development.

Sylvester Wallangko, the state’s commissioner for budget and economic planning, during the 2020  budget breakdown pointed out that the “ budget is to consolidate on the infrastructural development of the administration.

“Attention will continue to be placed on the completion of ongoing projects,” he said.

Consequently, attention has been given to the Ministry of Works and Transport which was allotted the sum of N 13.46 billion, representing 17.12% of the capital estimate for the “dualization of Old Airport Junction-Rayfield- Bukuru with spur to Dogon Karfe, Gbandang and New Government House, Fobur-Federe- Angware, Bassa- Binching-Buyo with spur to Zagun, reconstruction and resurfacing of Mararaban Jama’a British American Junction” and other roads.

The sum of N5.71 billion, representing 7.26 percent of the capital budget, was allocated to lands, housing and urban development, for the implementation of Greater Jos  Master Plan, land compensation and public acquisition, building of Fire Service headquarters and other projects.

Other capital projects, according to Wallangko, include the “completion of Zaria Road Stadium, completion of NYSC orientation camp and construction of rehabilitation centre in Shendam.”

Wallangko, therefore, implored citizens to comply with payment of taxes, stating that “a lot of funding is needed to implement these strategic and critical developmental policies and programmes contained in the budget.”