The Plateau State Executive Council has approved the establishment of a new Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction to strengthen interventions for vulnerable citizens and improve the state’s response to humanitarian emergencies and poverty-related challenges.
The decision was reached at the State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang at the Government House, Rayfield, Jos.
Disclosing the resolutions, the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Joyce Ramnap, said the new ministry would provide a dedicated institutional framework for coordinating humanitarian assistance, social protection and poverty-reduction programmes across the state.
According to her, the ministry would incorporate the activities of the Plateau State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and the Trauma Centre to promote a more coordinated and efficient approach to humanitarian response and support for vulnerable communities.
Ramnap said the initiative would also strengthen collaboration between the Plateau State Government and the Federal Government on humanitarian and poverty-reduction programmes, while ensuring that interventions reach citizens most in need.
In another major decision, the Council approved the renovation of the administrative buildings of the Jos Main Market and Satellite Market to improve their functionality, operational efficiency and overall management.
The Council also approved the additional procurement and installation of solar-powered streetlights and Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras, as well as the maintenance of existing streetlights across the Jos-Bukuru metropolis.
Under the approved security and infrastructure programme, 4,029 streetlight infrastructure units will be covered, while 199 CCTV cameras will be procured and installed in two phases to enhance surveillance, security and public safety.
The interventions, according to the Commissioner, underscore the Mutfwang administration’s commitment to building safer, more resilient and better-organised communities while investing in infrastructure that improves citizens’ quality of life and supports economic activities.
She added that the state government remained committed to policies and programmes that promote inclusive development, protect vulnerable citizens, strengthen public safety and create an enabling environment for sustainable economic growth.
The meeting was attended by the Deputy Governor, Josephine Chundung Piyo, and other members of the State Executive Council.
