My growing up days were full of fun and excitement – characterised by the peaceful, friendly and cosy environment of Jos, the Plateau State capital. Jos, undoubtedly, has the best weather in Nigeria.

And so, during my recent trip to Jos, as I arrived at the Yakubu Gowon Airport onboard Arik Air, I was full of nostalgia and apprehension. Indeed, I looked forward to an evening of relaxation after a one-hour flight. Around 7pm, I took a walk around the city, expecting to see burnt houses and dilapidated structures as a result of the incessant crises that have engulfed the state since 2001. I was rather disappointed as I saw a large number of white guests in the lobby, the restaurant and bar, with street lights on the major roads. These sights suddenly reshaped my impression and I realised that normalcy may have returned in Jos.

My growing up days were full of fun and excitement – characterised by the peaceful, friendly and cosy environment of Jos, the Plateau State capital. Jos, undoubtedly, has the best weather in Nigeria.

And so, during my recent trip to Jos, as I arrived at the Yakubu Gowon Airport onboard Arik Air, I was full of nostalgia and apprehension. Indeed, I looked forward to an evening of relaxation after a one-hour flight. Around 7pm, I took a walk around the city, expecting to see burnt houses and dilapidated structures as a result of the incessant crises that have engulfed the state since 2001. I was rather disappointed as I saw a large number of white guests in the lobby, the restaurant and bar, with street lights on the major roads. These sights suddenly reshaped my impression and I realised that normalcy may have returned in Jos.

The following morning, and until I left the state, I couldn’t stop marvelling at how much the city of Jos (and indeed the whole of Plateau State) had changed into a city that can compete with any modern city in the world.

As we got to the Gada-Biyu junction, a popular terminal in Jos, I asked the driver of the mini cab that took me round the city to pull over. I stood still as I beheld the newly-constructed ultra-modern, sophisticated fly-over bridge in front of me. It was hard to believe that Plateau could come alive in this form as against the negative news making the rounds as a result of the incessant crises that are now clearly in the past.

Governor Jang certainly knows how to keep to his manifesto promises irrespective of the challenges that have trailed his administration. The roads, bridges and erosion control projects so far executed by his administration are an indication that the chief servant is living up to expectation.

If you are within the metropolis, among the first most conspicuous of these developments that will greet your sight are the dualised Polo Roundabout, Gada-Biyu Farin-Gada, Alama-Rock heaven, Utan-Road, and Jos Hotel-Alheri Road network (24.5km). There are also the dualised Plateau Specialist Hill-Station Road, JD Gomwalk Road and the road to Rusan Village, beside the Stadium, Zaria Road, Busa Buja Laranto Katako and Bauchi Road (13.0km). Others are Rayfield (36.963km), Mararaban Jama’-Heipang Road (12.0k), Lamingo-JUTH Permanent Site Road (7.0km), Bukuru low cost (6.1km), and more than 17 local governments, etc.

Yet Baba Jang, as he is fondly called, is not relenting in his effort of delivering good governance to the people of his dear state. As a sports loving governor, he has also taken it upon himself to break the jinx of the Zaria Road Stadium abandoned by his predecessors for over 20 long years. His sustained effort is seeing to it that the abandoned stadium is built to FIFA-approved standard.

It will interest the reader to know that the Zaria Road Stadium was first awarded in 1988 by the then military administrator of Plateau State, Col. Lawrence A. Onoja. The project was thereafter abandoned, but a visit to the now almost 80-percent completed Zaria Road Ultra-Modern Stadium will leave your mouth agape for a long time as to the progress of work already achieved – all thanks to the Jonah Jang administration. The 40,000-capacity stadium can host any international competition, FIFA-organised tournament, IAAF competition, or even the Olympics.

“The stadium, when completed, will be superior to the National Stadium in Abuja,” the governor said. And Heinz Marotzke, FIFA technical adviser on facilities, adds that the stadium would set a new standard in construction and would set a pace for those who seek the best.

The building of NYSC permanent orientation camp in Mangu, rehabilitation of three water treatment plants in Jos-Bukuru Metropolis, and purchase of 100 mini cabs and 14 buses through the “Tackling Poverty Together Scheme” are other projects executed by the Jang administration so far in an effort to ensure a progressive Plateau.

As I left the state, I wished the progressive governor would continue to sustain his development efforts in Plateau as well as the security of its entire inhabitants. Well, there is no doubt as to whether Governor Jang will continue the good work, having already achieved so much in a state that has known nothing but crisis since he emerged as governor in 2007.

KINGSLEY CJ. CHUKWUKA

Chukwuka is editor-in-chief of

an online media

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The New face of Plateau