Attracting visitors is a pillar of the strategy transforming the economy of the state known as ‘Nigeria in miniature’
eautiful scenery, a rich cultural and historical heritage and excellent weather give Plateau State strong potential as a destination for tourism and recreation. With spectacular rock formations to climb, peaceful spots to picnic in, lakes for swimming, and a wide variety of wildlife to see there is plenty to attract both visitors and investors.
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Located in the middle of the country, Plateau State derives its name from the Jos Plateau, which features a picturesque landscape with spectacular natural wonders such as the rugged Shere Hills, the dome-shaped Wase Rock, the Asop and Kura falls, and Lake Pudong, a crater lake created by a volcano.
Abundant agricultural and mineral resources offer opportunities for investment
“Plateau State is right at the centre of Nigeria and you can link to our tourist sites from any part of the country,” points out State Governor Joshua Dariye.
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His administration is fully alive to the possibilities that tourism offers and has given it the prime place in its development programme. The private sector is seen as playing the key role and there are investment opportunities in the development of sites, accommodation and package deals. “Tourism is better sustained when it is private sector-led, rather than public sector-led,” Mr Dariye observes.
Home to around 50 ethnic groups, Plateau State is ‘Nigeria in miniature’, boasting a variety of festivals, languages and traditions, and cultural tourism is one area the authorities are eager to encourage. Sports tourism is another, particularly golf and polo, and there are attempts to revive horse racing.
Jos, the state capital and an important commercial centre with road, rail and air links to the rest of the country, is being promoted with some success as a venue for conference tourism. “We have the highest concentration of hotels in the country, outside of Lagos, Port Harcourt and Kano,” says the Governor.
Approximately 16,000 square miles in area, Plateau State was established in 1976, but acquired its present boundaries in 1996. The current administration’s State Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (SEEDS) is aimed at promoting economic growth and improved governance, providing for the social needs of the people and combating poverty.
“Our vision is the reengineering of the state to leave it better than we found it,” says Mr Dariye. “Our focus is on trying to create harmony and change in our social lives and our investment culture. Given the abundant potential that we are blessed with, there is nothing to stop us.”
Reforms introduced by the state government include initiatives to promote the rights of children and women and to improve life for the physically handicapped.
Education provision has been expanded with the construction and renovation of schools and classrooms, additional learning materials and extra training and salary improvements for teachers. Three new further education institutions have been established: Plateau State University, a College of Agriculture, and a College of Arts Science and Remedial Studies.
Delivery of healthcare services has also been receiving attention. New hospitals have been built and existing facilities rehabilitated, and training of healthcare personnel has been stepped up.
In addition to tourism, other sectors offer encouraging prospects for development, and efforts by the authorities to attract investment – including promises of tax cuts, land, accessible roads, good security and other incentives – are starting to pay off. “Banks and major financial institutions are coming into the state, and a number of companies from the United States and UK have indicated interest to come and work here,” says the Governor.
Abundant agricultural and
mineral resources provide the state with a solid base for industrialisation,
creating opportunities in activities such as food processing, and production
of beer and beverages and milk products.
The administration is acting to improve the living standards of the
state’s farmers through an agricultural development programme,
and has been encouraging mass production and processing of root and
tuber crops such as cassava, Irish potatoes, sweet potatoes, yams and
cocoyam. Coffee growing is seen as highly promising after the discovery
that conditions are ideal for growing Arabica beans, and there are plans
for construction of a coffee export village.
When the Bokkos Fertiliser Blending Plant, built at a cost of N534 million (£2.1 million), is fully operational it will give a huge boost to farming by providing cheap fertiliser at the farmers’ doorsteps.
Plateau State is blessed with commercial quantities of minerals such as barite, kaolin, phosphate and others. “We have quite a number of big and small companies that are mining kaolin,” says Mr Dariye. “We are also going into the area of precious stones. Because of the cost of labour here, the cost of cutting and polishing stones would be cheaper than anywhere else.”
Funding of rural electrification and development of the roads network by the administration have made important contributions to economic and social advance, but there are still opportunities for investment in infrastructure development, particularly in the areas of transport and communications.
The state government has also been looking into ways of widening the commercial horizons of Jos. Land has been provided for the Jos Inland Container Port, with a N50 million (£212,000) share investment by the administration, and consummation of the project is seen as one of the most important tasks ahead.
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