…Announces Joseph Ari as Campaign Director-General

Plateau State Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang has called on citizens to rise above religious, ethnic, and other differences and unite in the collective effort to defeat poverty, insecurity, and underdevelopment in Plateau State.

The Governor made the call at the New Government House, Rayfield, Jos, when the Metropolitan Grand Knight of the Knights and Ladies of St. Mulumba (KSM), Jos Metropolitan Council, Sir Mathew Yokpe, led members of the Order on a courtesy visit.

Mutfwang described as unfounded allegations that his administration had deliberately sidelined the Catholic community, explaining that appointments and other leadership decisions were based primarily on competence, political realities and geographical considerations, rather than religious affiliation.

According to him, poverty remains a common challenge confronting the people across the region, irrespective of their religious or ethnic backgrounds, and must therefore be tackled through deliberate and sustained investment in agriculture, livestock, infrastructure, skills development and other productive sectors capable of creating jobs and expanding economic opportunities.

He maintained that the fight against insecurity is equally central to the administration’s economic agenda, stressing that securing communities and restoring confidence is essential to removing the barriers that prevent citizens from accessing their farms, businesses and other opportunities for economic advancement and prosperity.

Mutfwang also sought to correct misconceptions surrounding the State’s livestock development agenda, noting that Plateau possesses enormous potential to become one of Nigeria’s leading livestock-producing states.

He explained that modern ranching could create substantial employment opportunities for young people, including veterinary doctors and other professionals trained in livestock management.

The Governor disclosed that the State was developing an abattoir with the capacity to process about 500 cattle daily, stressing that such investments would only achieve their intended purpose if citizens embraced livestock production as a viable and sustainable economic venture.

He added that his administration would not acquire land from indigenous people and hand it over to strangers under the guise of establishing ranches or for any other form of development, assuring the people that they could trust his administration to protect their ancestral lands, rights and interests.

The Governor further disclosed that his administration was working towards transforming the Jos Airport into an international airport, with the objective of opening new economic opportunities, particularly for the export of agricultural produce and other goods from Plateau State.

He urged citizens, particularly youths and women, to key into the administration’s economic agenda, noting that Plateau possesses a resilient, enterprising and highly productive population capable of driving sustainable development when provided with the right opportunities and enabling environment.

On security, the Governor said his administration was leaving no stone unturned in securing the State’s borders and protecting communities, while noting that some of the strategic measures being undertaken could not be disclosed publicly because of their sensitive nature and the need to safeguard their effectiveness.

He said strategic plans had been concluded to commence the process of returning displaced persons to their ancestral communities after the farming season, emphasising that government would only facilitate their return when adequate security arrangements had been put in place to guarantee their safety, dignity and sustainable reintegration.

The event climaxed with the announcement of Sir Joseph Ntung Ari, KSM, as the Campaign Director-General of the Mutfwang/Piyo Campaign Council for the 2027 elections, further underscoring the administration’s commitment to broad-based political mobilisation, inclusion and collective ownership of the development agenda of Plateau State.