The Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in Plateau, Mr Yiljap Abraham, on Tuesday, said the state government had developed a new tourists’ site at Dio, in Jos South Local Government. Abraham, who took journalists on tour of the site, described the massive rock formation shaped in the form of a crouching lion, as the latest site in the state. He said there was none like it in the whole of the nation, adding that its size was massive and construction work at the site was ongoing by an NGO.

The Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in Plateau, Mr Yiljap Abraham, on Tuesday, said the state government had developed a new tourists’ site at Dio, in Jos South Local Government. Abraham, who took journalists on tour of the site, described the massive rock formation shaped in the form of a crouching lion, as the latest site in the state. He said there was none like it in the whole of the nation, adding that its size was massive and construction work at the site was ongoing by an NGO.

The site, known as Lions-Hill, has a towering in-built monument of two tablets of the 10-commandments given to Moses in its front and on the flip-side, the new law given by Jesus Christ. The commissioner said, “such historical discovery will draw the attention of the state government for documentation.” He added that a water reservoir was being situated near the site for the comfort of tourists. The Secretary of the Lions-Hill Project Committee, Rev. Gyang Choji, said the project had started attracting tourists from within and outside the country. Choji said the discovery of the site followed a directive by President Goodluck Jonathan to the 36 states of the federation and Abuja to develop tourism structures for the commemoration of the nation’s centenary celebration.

He said the massive 10-commandment in two tablets was an inspiration from God. He noted that: “In Plateau, we decided to do something that will help us to always think about God by building the massive tablets of the 10-commandments into the Lions Hill site. “It came from an idea from a Philippines prophetess. “The prophetess from the Philippines, Grace Gupana, urged us to raise such a monument as a unifying point to bring the people of Plateau close to God.”

The secretary said that the 10-commandments were the largest in the world so far and had beaten that of the Philippines which occupied the premier position in the Guinness book of records in terms of size. He, however, said he could not estimate the actual size until construction works was completed. Other structures attached to the site include retreat centers for religious activities, a multipurpose centre and a 5,000 capacity arena and two Olympic size swimming pools named Pool of Bethsaida, for baptism and healing.

Other tourist sites in Plateau include the Riyom Rock Formation, the Shere Hills, Assop Falls, Wase Rock, Kurra Falls, Kurang Volcanic Mountain and Panyam Fish Farm. Some others are the Museum of Nigeria Traditional Architecture, Pandam Game Reserve and Lake, the Jos Wildlife Park, and Jos Zoological Garden.

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New Tourism site being developed in Plateau