Security has been heightened in Jos, the Plateau State capital, ahead of President Bola Tinubu’s expected arrival on Saturday for the All Progressives Congress (APC) North-Central presidential campaign rally.
A correspondent who visited several parts of the city observed a heavy deployment of security personnel at strategic locations, including Hill Station Junction, Zaria Road, Polo Roundabout and parts of Yakubu Gowon Way. Security agencies have also intensified surveillance ahead of the visit.
Tinubu is expected to attend the rally at Zaria Road Stadium, where he is also scheduled to commission three projects executed by the Plateau State Government: a Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Centre in Jos, the Plateau Special Activity Centre (P-SAC) and 50 hybrid Jet Mover buses for inter-local government transportation.
Ahead of the president’s visit, Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, APC National Chairman Professor Nentawe Yilwatda and former Deputy Governor Dame Pauline Tallen inspected the facilities.
Speaking about the BPO Centre, Mutfwang described it as a strategic investment in human capital development, job creation and economic empowerment.
According to a statement by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gyang Bere, the governor said the centre was established through a partnership between the Plateau State Government, Outsource Global and MTN Nigeria. It has an operational capacity of 800 seats and is projected to generate up to 2,400 full-time jobs when operating across three shifts.
Mutfwang said the facility would connect Plateau youths to the global digital economy through customer experience management, technical support and back-office services. He added that young people would be able to work for international organisations from Jos and earn in foreign currencies.
The governor said the Plateau Special Activity Centre was established to strengthen intelligence-led security operations, adding that security was essential to sustainable development.
The centre includes a Fusion and Analytical Centre, a Geo-Intelligence and GIS Unit, a Drone Unit, a Training Centre and a Profiling Room. These facilities are intended to support intelligence gathering, threat detection, analysis and coordinated security responses.
Mutfwang said the 50 hybrid buses would improve public transport, reduce travel costs and strengthen connectivity across the state’s 17 local government areas.
During an inspection of Zaria Road Stadium, the venue for the rally, Mutfwang said he expected a large turnout of APC supporters and stakeholders from across the North-Central region. He urged residents to come out to welcome Tinubu, whom he described as a statesman committed to Plateau State’s development and security.
Yilwatda commended the governor and the Presidential Campaign Council for coordinating preparations for the rally. He said he was satisfied with arrangements for the venue, security, airport logistics and traffic management.
“The preparation is top-notch, and I’m impressed with what I’ve seen in terms of the venue preparation, security, airport, street mapping and everything. It is excellent. I expect that tomorrow will be a wow on the Plateau,” he said.
Yilwatda expressed confidence that the APC would mobilise significant support for Tinubu, citing the party’s growing political structure and the involvement of former governors, deputy governors, speakers and other prominent political figures.
