The Plateau State Commissioner of Information and Communications, Hon. Dan Manjang has assured the citizens of the State of the readiness and commitment of the Lalong-led administration to complete all the ongoing 22 Lalong Legacy Projects across the State.

Hon. Manjang said the legacy projects are mainly education and health infrastructures which will have direct impact to the people, the areas they are sited and the State at large.

He said N600 million through Irrevocable Standing Payment Order (ISPO) is being committed monthly for the legacy projects.

He said the projects are aimed at addressing the infrastructural deficit in the education and health sectors which are critical to the development of the State.

“When completed, the projects will created employment opportunities and improve the economic fortunes of the areas and the State” he hinted.

He said the Executive Governor is committed to actualizing the administration’s 3-point agenda which are Peace, security and good governance, Physical Infrastructural development and sustainable economic development.

The Commissioner dropped these hints while on Media Tour of Ongoing Projects in the State.

On his part, Prof. John Wokton Wade, mni, the Director General, Research, Planning, Documentation and Strategic Planning disclosed that the Social service delivery and the positive multiplying effect in terms of job creation, boost of economic activities and others are benefits of the ongoing projects when completed.

Plateau State Health Commissioner, Dr. Nimkong Lar lauded Gov. Lalong for prioritizing the health sector and the quality of ongoing hospital projects. He said the works are of high standard.

The projects visited were Government Secondary School Dengi Kanam LGA, Model Primary School situated in Ban Amper Kanke LGA, Government College Pankshin, Potato Value Chain Pankshin, Model General Hospital Mangu, Potato Tissue Culture Laboratory Gindiri Road Mangu LGA, Potato Processing Plant Bokkos for chips, starch and flour production and the Model General Hospital Barkin Ladi LGA.

The Potato Tissue Culture Laboratory Gindiri Road Mangu LGA which is part of the Potato Value Chain Support Project of the AfDB is said to have production capacity of 6 million seedlings to produce high yield and improved crops that are free from diseases. The State government is said to be paying N120 million counterpart fund annually for the projects.

The Team stopped over at General Hospital Kanke, Pankshin Water Treatment Plant and Plateau State University (PLASU) Bokkos to see other ongoing projects.

An Engineer of Plateau State Water Board commended the State Government for the reactivation of Pankshin Water Treatment Plant and the reticulation of the water project in Pankshin by the State Government in conjunction with World Bank. He said the Plant is fully operational and the area now has water supply for 2-3 times a week. He pointed out that similar intervention were done in Bokkos, Shendam, Langtang North, Gindiri Treatment Plants which have all been reactivated and are now fully operational.

At Plateau State University, the Team were warmly received by the Vice Chancellor of the Institution, Prof. Yohanna Izam who lauded the State government for ongoing projects as well as the Federal Interventions in terms of infrastructural development in the School.
He said one of the biggest achievements is the accreditation of courses in 2018.

He hinted that there are 15 ongoing projects comprising of 3 Faculty Building and Senate Building.

The e-library component of the library which give students access to worldwide academic resources was also completed in 2018.

Contractors handling the various projects who were at the project sites gave assurance of timely completion in line with the terms of contract. They also posited that quality will not be compromised in the project.

Those in the team also include Mrs. Theodora Damulak, staff of the Plateau State Ministry of Information, Works Ministry, Housing Ministry, Journalists from the Print Media, Electronic Media, Publishers, Bloggers and Online Media.

The 3-day Media Tour which started on Thursday 11th February with the Southern Zone is expected to end on Saturday 13th February, 2020 with the Northern Zone of the State.

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“No Legacy Project Will be Left Uncompleted” – Hon. Dan Manjang