Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State has said his administration is poised to rejuvenate business and other commercial activities in Jos the State Capital.

This is coming after many years of inertia owing to the internecine strife on the Plateau.

Business activities, especially in Jos central business district, have been damaged due to frequent ethno-religious crises that have bedevilled the state.

The governor spoke in Jos at a business community stakeholders session organised by Jos Forum of the Nairobi-based Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, said that his government is worried about the downturn in commercial activities in the state.

He said that the log years of strife in the Plateau has not only affected business in the state, but has also damaged inter-communal relationship which is important in enhancing business and other commercial activities.

The governor said that as a first start, the government is looking at how the burnt multi-billion naira Jos main market, which was razed down in February 2002, could be rebuilt, adding that the government is looking at various options on how the market could be brought back to life.

Lalong, who spoke through a former Commissioner for Works, Mr. Noel Donjur, said that the government is consulting other stakeholders and banks to explore all financing options for the market.

He said that the crises have also affected the internally revenue generation of the state, stressing that the government was determined to shore up its revenue base through enhanced IGR.

Governor Lalong, who expressed displeasure at the dirt’s, which has left ugly sights in Jos, added that the government is also thinking of spreading the citing of markets so as to decongest the city centre.

Senior Advisor of CHD, Dr. Yakubu Sankey, said that apart from the efforts of the centre to foster and engender long lasting relationship between al the tribes in Jos, the centre is also poised to assist in reinvigorating the business environment in Jos.

He said, the desire to restore the lost glory of Jos in all sectors informed the convening of the stakeholders session, which brought together leaders of Hausa, Fulani, Berom, Yoruba, Igbo, Afizere, Anaguta and South South communities, including financial institutions.

Sankey said that the centre also commissioned a study on how to bring back the burnt Jos Main market. A group of consultants presented a report on the Jos Main market and how it can be rebuilt and made more functional.

All the leaders of the eight steering communities of the Jos Forum of CHD also proffered solutions on how to restore the once flourishing business environment in Jos.

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Governor Lalong moves to revive business activities in Jos