Gov Lalong revamping tourism sector in Plateau, says Commissioner

Plateau State Commissioner for Culture, Tourism and Hospitality, Mr. Peter Mwankon, has said that the tourism sector has the potential to be the highest employer of labour in the state.

The commissioner stated this on Monday when Save and Humanity Organisation gave him an award for his contribution for the development of the sector.

The commissioner said that in view of the huge potential, Plateau State Government under the leadership of Governor Simon Lalong was working assiduously to revive the sector.

“Tourism has a huge potential capable to be highest employer of labour apart from huge revenue generation of government and citizens of the state.

“The sector can create millions of direct and indirect jobs when it is thriving.

“If there is influx of tourists into Plateau, everyone ranging from pure water sellers to hoteliers apart from government will benefit,” he said.

He said that the Lalong administration within the last two years of its existence has taken concrete steps to develop tourists’ sites as part of efforts to develop tourism.

Mwankon said that the state government brought back the Jos Carnival and since then it has been attracting tourists to the state.

He said that cultural festivals that have almost gone extinct have been revived by the state government and since then people have been coming from all parts of the country to participate.

The commissioner commended the NGO for recognising their contribution for the growth of tourism.
He said that he was humbled by the award saying that it would spur him, the staff and management of the ministry to do more.

Mr. Abraham Oyibo, Executive Director, Save and Serve Humanity Organisation said that commissioner was the first to be given the Service Ambassador award by the organisation.

Oyibo said that the organisation conducted a research with focus on commitment to goals, public accessibility among others and Mwankon came tops.

The director said that the NGO’s concern was to advocate for good governance and believe that the award would spur the commissioner to do more.

Kingsley Chukwuka, Jos