Independence and Renewal: Why Plateau Deserves Four More Years of Gov. Mutfwang

By Labaran Ahmed

Every Independence Day offers Nigeria a mirror. It asks citizens not only to wave the flag and sing the anthem but also to reflect honestly on how far we have come — and how far we must still travel. For Plateau, that mirror once reflected despair. Only two years ago, salaries went unpaid for months, hospitals were empty shells, schools were neglected, and communities were torn apart by conflict. The mood across the state was weary and uncertain, as if hope itself had fled the Plateau highlands.

Today, the mirror shows something different. Teachers speak of salaries arriving on time. Farmers plant and harvest with hope. Students study with fewer burdens. Traders praise new roads that cut their journeys in half. Slowly but surely, the language of despair is being replaced by the vocabulary of renewal. At the center of this shift is one man: Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang. His leadership has combined empathy for ordinary people with a pragmatic vision that looks both inward to Plateau’s needs and outward to global opportunities.

This story is not just about listing achievements. It is about telling the story of a state at a crossroads — why the seeds of renewal must not be uprooted prematurely, why continuity is essential, and why Plateau deserves four more years of Governor Mutfwang.

On a stretch of farmland in Barkin Ladi, a middle-aged farmer surveys his field. Two years ago, his harvests were barely enough to feed his family. Fertilizer was unaffordable, tractors were a distant dream, and middlemen swallowed what little profit he made.

Today, he cultivates twice the land he once did. A government-supplied tractor clears his fields in days instead of weeks. Rows of healthy maize stretch into the horizon. “I can farm like a real businessman now,” he says with pride.

Across Plateau, this story is being repeated. Under Governor Mutfwang, the state has: Invested ₦16 billion in agricultural support. Distributed 200 truckloads of fertilizer. Deployed 200 tractors under the Plateau Agricultural Development Programme (PADP). Forged international partnerships — dairy technology with the Netherlands, greenhouse projects with Brazil.

“Two years is planting; four more years is harvest.” Why this matters: Agriculture is the backbone of Plateau’s economy. By shifting farmers from subsistence to agribusiness, the state is setting up entire communities for prosperity. Why four more years: Mechanization, agro-processing, and export markets require consistency. Continuity will turn today’s seeds into tomorrow’s abundance.

Drive into Langtang today, and you are greeted by the sound of graders and bulldozers. Villages once cut off during the rainy season now see steady traffic. A tomato trader from Pankshin recalls how her journey to Jos was cut from six hours to three. “Before, my tomatoes would rot before reaching the city. Now, I sell them fresh,” she says with relief.

Across the state, the transformation is clear: 380 km of rural roads under construction through RAMP. Over 3,000 km rehabilitated. The long-abandoned Utongong Flyover completed. Metro Buses easing urban transport, with free rides for the elderly. Jos–Bukuru railway line revived. Air travel connectivity expanded: three weekly flights to Abuja, seven to Lagos. MoU signed with FAAN to upgrade Yakubu Gowon Airport into an international cargo hub.

Infrastructure is not about concrete; it is about connection — farmers to markets, students to schools, workers to jobs. Why four more years: Roads, bridges, and rail lines are long-term projects. Plateau needs continuity to finish what has begun and to expand into underserved areas.

At Plateau Polytechnic, a second-year student once feared she would abandon her studies. Her widowed mother could not keep up with fees. But when the government cut fees by 50%, relief washed over her. “I will graduate now,” she says confidently.

Her story reflects a broader transformation: Scholarships have tripled, reaching thousands more students. The College of Education, Gindiri is being upgraded to a degree-awarding institution. ICT hubs, supported through diaspora partnerships, are equipping young people with coding and digital skills. Vocational centers in Mangu and beyond train youths in carpentry, tailoring, welding, and more.

Education is the ladder of opportunity. Why four more years: Reforming education requires patience. Plateau can become Northern Nigeria’s hub for ICT and vocational training — producing graduates who are skilled, employable, and globally competitive.

Step into Plateau Specialist Hospital today, and you notice the change. New diagnostic equipment hums. A laboratory has been completed. Staff are better trained. The hospital is being upgraded to a teaching facility, attracting both students and specialists.

But the deeper revolution lies in universal health coverage. Enrollment in Plateau’s insurance scheme has grown from 93,000 in 2023 to 208,000 in 2025. 9,113 retired civil servants were enrolled — a historic first, giving them dignity and healthcare in retirement. Vulnerable groups — pregnant women, children under five, persons with disabilities, orphans, IDPs — now receive fully-funded care. All 17 LGAs contribute directly, adding another 17,000 enrollees. In total, over 26,000 new beneficiaries now access healthcare services across the state. Diaspora support delivers medical supplies; partnerships with Germany and Canada expand training.

“This is not charity; it is justice. Healthcare is a right, not a privilege.” Why four more years: Expanding universal health coverage and completing specialist centers takes time. Continuity is the only way to secure these gains.

For decades, Plateau was Nigeria’s tourism jewel. Conflict dimmed that glow, but today it flickers back to life. At Jos Wildlife Park, workers repaint enclosures. Hill Station Hotel and Plateau Hotel are being renovated. Conference tourism is reviving, with Jos hotels reporting some of the highest occupancy rates in Nigeria.

Tourism is not just pride — it is jobs, investment, and a new narrative of peace. With consistency, Plateau can reclaim its crown as Nigeria’s tourism capital.

In Langtang North, women once trekked for hours to fetch water. Today, solar-powered boreholes stand in their villages. A ₦30 billion water scheme and PLAMWASSA reforms are expanding access statewide. Clean water is dignity restored.

Meanwhile, commerce is rising: ICT entrepreneurs launch startups with diaspora mentorship. Mining investors return to Riyom. MSME loans empower traders in Bukuru. Why four more years: Investor confidence depends on stability. Continuity encourages businesses to commit for the long term.

Governor Mutfwang has been clear: peace is the foundation of progress. Within 48 hours of taking office, he convened a Security Council meeting that had been abandoned for over a year.

Today, Plateau is safer than many North-Central states. No LGA is under bandit control. Opportunistic attacks may occur, but communities once displaced are reclaiming their lives.

Operation Rainbow has been revitalized: Over 600 new recruits deployed to communities. Youths serve as the first line of defense. Expansion plans include drones and intelligence networks. Without peace, everything crumbles. With peace, everything grows.

From appointing commissioners across faiths and ethnicities to renovating the Jos Central Mosque and hosting the Plateau Unity Carol, inclusiveness has become reality. Muslims, Christians, Fulani, Igbo, Yoruba, Berom — all see themselves in this administration. Dialogue is institutionalized through the Inter-Religious Advisory Council. Over 500 pilgrims now enjoy annual Hajj support. Healing takes time. Four more years will entrench inclusiveness as Plateau’s permanent culture.

On September 11, 2025, history was made in Zanwra, Bassa LGA, when Governor Mutfwang launched the Workers’ Housing Estate for Civil Servants. For decades, they clamored for housing. Today, that dream is taking shape.

Salaries paid promptly. Arrears cleared. Minimum wage implemented. As the governor has said: “Salary payment is a duty, not a favour.” Why four more years: Worker dignity is inseparable from productivity.

Plateau knows too well the pain of abandoned projects — hospital shells, half-built roads, collapsed industries. Without continuity, progress is wasted.

Independence means freedom — from fear, want, and despair. Under Governor Mutfwang, Plateau has begun to taste that freedom again. Farmers cultivate with confidence. Students study with hope. Traders move their goods on new roads. Civil servants are valued. Communities are healing. But this is not the end — it is only the beginning. Continuity is the bridge between promise and fulfillment.

As Nigerians raise the green-white-green this Independence Day, Plateau raises its own banner of renewal. Just as 1960 marked a dawn for Nigeria, today marks a new dawn for Plateau. The message is clear: to rebuild Plateau fully, four more years is not a luxury — it is a necessity. With stability, inclusivity, and vision, Plateau is rising again. And by the grace of God, all its people shall rise with it.