Tourism: Plateau, private firm to renovate moribund hotel at N60m

The Plateau State Government (PLSG) on Tuesday said it was partnering with a private firm, Jimroose international Ltd, to spend N60 million on renovating the moribund Jos Plaza Hotel.

The state Commissioner for Tourism, Culture and Hospitality, Peter Mwankon, disclosed this at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Jos.

Mwankon said that the partnership was aimed at revamping the state’s tourism sector.

He said that as part of the benefits of the partnership, 75 percent of the workforce would be Plateau indigenes.

“This renovation will ensure that the teeming unemployed youths will be engaged for productive purposes.

“We will still continue with our role of supervising the renovation and construction of the Jos Plaza Hotel by the company.

“The provisions of the MOU allow one year of moratorium for the firm and an agreement of 15 years before subsequent renewal,’’ the commissioner said.

Mwankon said that the Lalong administration was committed to restoring Plateau as the hub of Tourism in Nigeria and beyond.

He added that more hospitality outlets such as the Plateau Hotel, Solomon Lar Amusement Park and Jos Wildlife Park would be leased out for optimal management.

“To ensure more developmental projects, the state’s internally generated revenue must increase which can be achieved through Public/Private Partnership of state-owned hospitality outlets,’’ the commissioner said.

In his remarks, Mr Garba Mador, the Managing Director, Jimroose International Hotels and Towers, Gwagwalada, commended the Plateau Government for the partnership aimed at revamping its tourism sector.

Mador said that his organisation was committed to upgrading the hotel to a conducive and serene environment for guests.

“Part of our project includes the construction of additional guest rooms, laundry service room, restaurant and shops amongst others,’’ he said.

Daily Times reports that the Plateau Government also signed an MOU with a French firm in November to manage Pankshin Hotel for a period of 15 years.

Kingsley Chukwuka Jos