Gov Lalong woos investors, says Plateau peaceful, suitable for business
Gov Simon Lalong of Plateau State has said that the state has already, by and large, addressed its own hitherto security challenges, and has now become a peaceful, suitable, business and investment hub for all kinds of investors.
The Governor made this known on Tuesday in Abuja at a panel discussion of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) entitled, “Securing our Future: An Urgency for Now.”
According to him, the state has already addressed major issues that border on religion, injustice and ethnicity, which are usually the triggers or faultlines exploited during crises, through dialogue, consultation and collaboration with critical stakeholders.
“Plateau State remains a very suitable business and investment hub because the government has vigorously addressed some of the major security challenges by tackling their root causes.
“Though the security challenges in Plateau State have not been completely eradicated, there is substantial peace, which has been nurtured through the Plateau Peace Building Agency and the State Inter-Religous Council over the last six years.
“Most of the negative narratives about insecurity in the state are exaggerated and instigated by people from outside the state, in collaboration with some people within the state, who want to make economic or political gains through violence,” he said.
Governor Lalong further said that the state had faced headlong acts of criminality through support to security agencies with equipment and other logistics for better response to security demands.
He said that the state owned security outfit, Operation Rainbow, had also stepped in to work with vigilante and other community watch groups to deal with the security situation which he said had greatly improved the security situation in the state.
Lalong also advocated for a review of the revenue sharing formula and the issue of state police which, he stressed, must accommodate adequate funding, checks and balances and a very strong mechanism against abuse. This he said would enable the state to properly respond to security challenges as and when due.
The Governor’s spokesman, Simon Macham, in a statement in Abuja said Gov Lalong cited the recent peaceful local government elections conducted in the state as an evidence of the dividends of peace and security which were being consolidated upon.
He said Gov Lalong also urged other states to emulate the state by setting up their own equivalent of the Plateau Peace Building Agency, which is backed by law, in order to be proactive and decisive in addressing conflicts in their respective states.