By Admin
Jos, Plateau State – Residents of Rantya Mini Layout and Longwa Community off Domkat Bali Road have appealed to the Plateau State Government to extend its ongoing road rehabilitation and gully erosion control projects to their area as the rainy season approaches.
The community said the completion of the abandoned road project is critical to easing movement and improving livelihoods in the densely populated settlement.
Speaking on behalf of the residents, Elder Davou Dalyop said the community is overwhelmed with gratitude for Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang’s environmental development initiatives across the Jos-Bukuru metropolis.
He noted that projects such as road rehabilitation, gully erosion control, city beautification, and the urban mass transport system under the Greater Jos Master Plan reflect the administration’s commitment to giving Jos a modern outlook in line with global mega cities.
The residents acknowledged that Jos’s growth as an administrative, commercial, and tourist hub is tied to its unique geography and climate, which make quality road infrastructure essential for socio-economic development and security.
They commended the Governor for remaining steadfast on infrastructural delivery despite security challenges, saying his courage has earned him widespread public support.
However, they drew attention to the contrast within their neighbourhood, where only a minor section has benefited from the current rehabilitation exercise being carried out by the State Direct Labour Agency.
A larger part with high social and commercial activity, they said, remains neglected and is increasingly threatened by expanding gully erosion that is destroying access roads.
The community stressed that extending the exercise to Rantya Mini Layout and Longwa would harmonize the area’s road network and uplift social and economic activities in line with the state’s slum upgrading programme.
They argued that improved roads would unlock the area’s potential and enhance its attractiveness to investors and tourists.
They also highlighted the community’s tourism potential, citing landmarks such as the Solomon Lar Amusement Park and the Millennium Hotel, described as the only indigenous three-star hotel in Jos.
The residents said upgrading the road network could pave the way for the hotel’s expansion to a five-star facility and help preserve the scenic beauty of the settlement, which is home to a 95 percent indigenous population with diverse cultural heritage.
According to the residents, functional roads would also serve as a springboard for talent discovery and youth entrepreneurship by improving access and connectivity within the area. They noted that good infrastructure is a foundation for socio-economic growth and a tool for addressing urbanization challenges.
In their direct appeal to the Governor, the community urged the State Direct Labour Agency and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development to extend the road rehabilitation exercise to Rantya Mini Layout and Longwa and complete the remaining abandoned projects in the neighbourhood. They expressed confidence that government intervention would bring relief and align the area with the broader vision for a modern Jos.
