The Plateau State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to restoring and protecting tourist attractions across the state as part of efforts to diversify the economy, create jobs and reposition Plateau as Nigeria’s leading tourism destination.
The Commissioner for Information and Communication, Hon. Joyce Ramnap, who also supervises the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality, disclosed this after leading government officials and technical consultants on an assessment tour of major tourist attractions in Jos North, Jos South and Riyom Local Government Areas of the state.
The team inspected Shere Hills in Jos North, tourist attractions in Sheher community of Jos South, the Riyom Rock formations and Mado Tourist Village as part of the assessment aimed at evaluating the condition of the sites and identifying measures for their restoration and development.
Ramnap said the exercise was designed to integrate the identified tourist assets into the Greater Jos Master Plan while laying the foundation for a comprehensive tourism policy that would guarantee their protection, preservation and sustainable development.
She said Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s administration was committed to harnessing Plateau’s rich natural endowments to stimulate economic growth, attract investment and create employment opportunities for the people.
According to her, tourism remains one of the strategic sectors capable of boosting the state’s internally generated revenue while opening up rural communities to economic development.
“Plateau is richly blessed with natural attractions that can be transformed into world-class tourism destinations. We are here to assess these heritage sites so they can be properly captured in the Greater Jos Master Plan and developed in a way that will stand the test of time.
“Governor Caleb Mutfwang has remained committed to developing every sector of the state’s economy, and tourism is one of the sectors with enormous potential to drive economic growth, create jobs and improve the livelihoods of our people,” she said.
The Commissioner said the assessment had two key objectives: integrating tourism assets into the Greater Jos Master Plan and developing a policy framework that would guarantee the protection and sustainable management of the state’s tourism heritage.
She, however, expressed concern over encroachment and environmental degradation at some of the sites, particularly within the Shere Hills area.
“It is unfortunate that such a valuable tourism asset has been tampered with. Government will investigate the situation and take appropriate steps to protect the site.
From what we have seen, it is obvious that the level of devastation recorded there could not have been covered by any legitimate approval,” she stated.
Ramnap urged Plateau residents, hikers and tourists to continue exploring the state’s numerous attractions, describing Plateau as one of Nigeria’s most naturally endowed tourism destinations.
“There is enormous tourism potential on the Plateau. These are God-given gifts that should be preserved and promoted. We encourage tourists from within and outside the country to visit Plateau and experience its unique natural attractions,” she added.
On infrastructure, the Commissioner said the government would incorporate the development of access roads and other supporting facilities into the state’s tourism policy and the Greater Jos Master Plan to improve accessibility to tourist sites.
She disclosed that technical consultants accompanied the delegation to provide professional guidance on the restoration and development of the sites in line with global best practices.
According to her, improved infrastructure around the tourist attractions would not only enhance tourism but also stimulate economic activities and accelerate development in host communities.