BY ACHOR ABIMAJE, Jos
Plateau State governor, Caleb Mutfwang has reiterated his administration’s unwavering commitment to transforming the state into a beacon of hope, prosperity, and stability.
During a media parley to mark his one year in office at the weekend, the governor outlined his extensive efforts to lay a solid foundation for the state’s future, emphasising that the ultimate goal is to make Plateau better than he met it.
He acknowledged the stark realities reflected in various indices. “Whether it’s the poverty index or educational performance, Plateau State is below average,” he said, noting the state’s position of 29th out of 36 in several key metrics. “This should not be our story. Plateau’s story can be better, and we are determined to make it so.”
The governor expressed gratitude to the people of Plateau for their support and appreciation of his administration’s efforts. “We are not relaxing,” he assured. “We are determined to do more than what people have seen. We want to build a safe, peaceful, resilient, and prosperous Plateau that will become the pride of Nigeria.”
On security challenges, he highlighted the obstacles posed by the federal structure of Nigeria’s security apparatus. He emphasized that despite being the chief security officers of their states, governors do not command troops directly.
“Directives must come from Abuja, which complicates the response to local security challenges,” he explained.
Reflecting on the terror unleashed on Mangu and Bokkos three weeks before his inauguration, despite efforts to contain the violence, sporadic attacks continued, culminating in the tragic events of December 24-26.
“It’s a painful episode I cannot forget,” he lamented.
He praised the support from President Bola Tinubu and the vice president, which led to increased military engagement and emphasized the importance of community resilience and intra- and inter-community relations in reducing criminal activities. “Today, we can say there is relative peace on the Plateau,” he noted while cautioning that more work remains. “We will continue to bring out strategies to contain and forestall challenges.”
