Plateau State Governor, Rt Hon Simon Lalong has pledged his administration’s
commitment to supporting initiatives that would promote
industrialisation and business in the state, to create employment for
the teeming youths of Plateau.The
Governor restated this commitment yesterday at Barkin Ladi, near Jos,
while inspecting ongoing works at the Highland Bottling
The
state government had last year signed an agreement with Hummer Drinks
Ltd, a soft drinks producing company, to refurbish the abandoned
Highland Bottling company in Barkin Ladi.
The
Chairman, technical committee of Plateau Investment and
Property-development Company (PIPC), Nde Ezekiel Gomos had, during the
signing of the agreement, commended the state government over the
laudable steps to revamp the company, stressing that the development was
in line with the industrialisation policy of Lalong’s administration.
Speaking
yesterday, Lalong said His administration would continue to deliver on
his campaign promises to the people of the state, adding that “we are
determined to better the lives of the citizens of the state and also
rescue ailing companies and businesses.”
He
said, government would also encourage small scale businesses so that
youths that were unemployed would be engaged, adding that the new
policies of government had a positive impact in terms of generating
revenue and encourage income taxes.
Lalong
also said that the state government was set to re-acquire the
controversially sold BARC Farms in other to meet up with the
agricultural revolution of the Federal Government.
Speaking
earlier, the managing director of Highland Bottling Company, Mr. Joseph
Umoru said, “For the past one year, we have made every practical effort
to see that we commence full production. We have been able to launch
our first product of table water (Gov Water) into the market, and have
employed 126 Plateau indigenes.”
While
commending the laudable efforts of the state government at reviving the
company, Umoru recalled that it had been abandoned since 21 years ago.
He however appealed to the government to consider revamping more of the
moribund companies in the state, like the Jos International Breweries
(JIB), which is of a great interest.
Company.
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