How Mutfwang is rebuilding Plateau through sports, tourism, investment, landmark infrastructure projects

For decades, Plateau State was celebrated as one of Nigeria’s foremost destinations for tourism, hospitality and sports. The Hill Station Hotel, Plateau Hotel and Rwang Pam Township Stadium were among the state’s most recognisable landmarks, attracting tourists, hosting conferences and sporting competitions, while contributing significantly to the local economy.

However, years of neglect, deteriorating infrastructure and recurring security challenges eroded that reputation. The Hill Station Hotel remained under lock and key for nearly eight years, the Plateau Hotel lost much of its appeal, while the Rwang Pam Township Stadium gradually fell short of the standards required to host major national and international competitions. Stakeholders in the tourism and sports sectors believe the rehabilitation of the three facilities could serve as a major catalyst for economic recovery. Beyond preserving important public assets, the projects are expected to create jobs, stimulate businesses in the hospitality and transport sectors, attract private investments and boost internally generated revenue through conferences, sporting events and leisure tourism.

The remodelling of the Rwang Pam Township Stadium is also expected to revive Plateau’s sporting culture by providing modern facilities for athletes, encouraging grassroots talent development and positioning the state to host local and international sporting competitions. Such events are expected to increase patronage for hotels, restaurants, transport operators and other businesses.

Read also: How Mutfwang courted global investors with Plateau vision at Invest Lagos

Similarly, the restoration of the Plateau Hotel and Hill Station Hotel forms part of the state’s broader strategy to reclaim its status as the “Home of Peace and Tourism.” With improved hospitality infrastructure, the government hopes to attract investors, conference organisers and tourists while diversifying the economy beyond federal allocations through stronger private-sector participation.

Against this backdrop, Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang on Thursday inspected the ongoing remodelling of the Rwang Pam Township Stadium, Plateau Hotel and Hill Station Hotel in Jos, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to using strategic infrastructure investments to reposition Plateau as a destination for sports, tourism and business.

At the Rwang Pam Township Stadium, the governor expressed satisfaction with the quality of work but directed contractors to speed up execution to ensure the project is completed ahead of the forthcoming football season.

“The completion of this sporting facility will position Plateau State to host both national and international sporting events. That is why we insist that quality must never be compromised. So far, I am impressed with what I have seen, but we expect a faster pace of work.

“We need more hands-on site, particularly on the pitch. The contractor must take full advantage of the August break to ensure that the rains do not slow down the project. By the grace of God, before the football season begins in earnest, the pitch should be ready so that attention can shift to other components of the project,” the governor stated.

He explained that the remodelling of the stadium forms part of his administration’s broader vision to restore Plateau’s sporting heritage, promote grassroots sports development and position the state as a hub for sports tourism and major competitions.

The governor also inspected the ongoing reconstruction of the Plateau Hotel and Hill Station Hotel, where he commended the investors and contractors for the progress made despite initial setbacks.

“I am pleased with the quality of work going on here. We experienced a few challenges at the beginning, which slowed the pace of execution, but I must sincerely appreciate our partners. These projects are clear evidence that Public-Private Partnerships can successfully deliver critical public infrastructure.

“One of the commitments we made upon assuming office was to recover and restore Plateau State’s legacy assets. Anyone familiar with Jos understands the historical significance of the Hill Station Hotel. It was once one of Nigeria’s flagship hospitality destinations, but sadly remained under lock and key for nearly eight years.

“Today, I can confidently say that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Serious reconstruction and redevelopment work is ongoing. Our partners at both the Hill Station Hotel and Plateau Hotel have assured us that the first phase of these projects will be delivered by October 1, 2026, and that is indeed exciting,” the governor stated.

He further said: “Once completed, these projects will mark a major turning point in our tourism development agenda. No state can successfully drive tourism without modern hospitality infrastructure. I am confident these facilities will significantly enhance Plateau’s attractiveness as a destination for tourism, conferences, business, and leisure.

“I am delighted with the progress so far. Plateau people are eagerly anticipating the completion of these projects. Interestingly, many people have reached out to me simply because they have seen the new perimeter fencing, which has already rekindled fond memories of these historic landmarks.”

Governor Mutfwang said the restoration of the Plateau Hotel and Hill Station Hotel would stimulate economic activities, attract local and international investments, create employment opportunities and restore Plateau’s reputation as one of Nigeria’s leading destinations for tourism, conferences and recreation.

He noted that the progress recorded on the projects sends a strong signal to investors that Plateau State is open for business, adding that his administration has deliberately created an enabling environment for businesses to thrive through strategic infrastructure investments anchored on public-private partnerships.

The governor also reaffirmed his administration’s determination to tackle security challenges through collaboration with security agencies and community stakeholders, expressing confidence that Plateau would emerge stronger, safer and more prosperous.

He was received at the project sites by Danlami Jelka, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Plateau Investment and Property Development Company (PIPC) who led investors and contractors on the inspection tour and briefed the governor on the progress of work.

Contractors handling the hotel projects assured the governor that the first phase of both the Plateau Hotel and Hill Station Hotel would be delivered by October 1, 2026, marking what the administration hopes will be a significant milestone in Plateau’s economic and tourism revival.

BusinessDay reports that if completed as scheduled, the remodelling of the Rwang Pam Township Stadium, Plateau Hotel and Hill Station Hotel is expected to mark a turning point in Plateau’s economic revival. The projects are projected to create hundreds of direct and indirect jobs, stimulate growth in the hospitality, transport and entertainment sectors, attract national and international sporting events, and increase tourist arrivals.

They are also expected to boost internally generated revenue, strengthen investor confidence and reinforce Governor Mutfwang’s strategy of diversifying Plateau’s economy through sports, tourism and public-private partnerships rather than relying largely on federal allocations.