In the ancient city of Jos—cradled by rolling hills and tempered by a climate often likened to the Mediterranean—change is taking shape not just in rhetoric but in real, tangible movement. On Thursday, June 12, 2025, amid warm applause and renewed civic pride, Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State inaugurated 15 gleaming new metro buses—an unmistakable symbol of a government in motion and a people rediscovering momentum. With this second rollout, the state’s public transit system now boasts 30 modern vehicles—a milestone many in the “Tin City” consider nothing short of a renaissance for mobility and economic resilience.
For the thousands of residents who traverse the bustling arteries of Jos daily—from Terminus Market to Rayfield, from Bukuru to Angwan Rukuba—this development signals not just an improvement in convenience, but a recalibration of trust. Public transport, long fraught with broken-down buses and unreliable service, is being reimagined as a dignified, affordable and efficient system under the revived Plateau Express Service. It’s a revival that has found its muse in a governor whose philosophy of governance is grounded in access, equity, and infrastructural renewal.
“Plateau Express Service began many years ago and has gone through numerous challenges. But I am proud to say that the last time Plateau Express truly served the people of Plateau was under the last PDP administration. And today, again under a PDP-led government, we are proud to align with the initiatives of Mr. President.
“When Mr. President came into office, he charged governors across the country to do everything possible to alleviate the suffering of the people. We believed one of the key sectors to address the challenges brought by the removal of fuel subsidy was transport. And so, we decided that the best way to bring subsidy directly back to the people was through the transport sector. I’m glad to say that today, we now have a functional transport service within the metropolis, benefiting our people immensely,” he said.
That statement reverberated through the crowd not just as political sentiment, but as a solemn reminder of lost time and wasted opportunity. The Plateau Express Service was once a crown jewel in the state’s public infrastructure ecosystem. But over the years, what began as a noble institution—tasked with making intra-city and intercity travel safer and more affordable—gradually became another relic of neglect. Rust replaced reliability. Now, it is roaring back to life. Mutfwang’s decision to breathe life into the transport system is not isolated. It sits squarely within a broader vision to reposition Plateau State as a model of developmental governance—one where mobility is not a privilege but a public right; where transport is not just about buses, but about access to opportunity.
The governor’s move gains even more gravitas against the backdrop of Nigeria’s recent economic shifts—particularly the fuel subsidy removal that sparked widespread hardship. While debates rage over its long-term merits, there is a consensus that the immediate blow has been deeply felt by ordinary Nigerians. Transport fares surged. Mobility shrank. Families adjusted their routines. In response to President Bola Tinubu’s directive urging state governors to cushion the blow for citizens, Governor Mutfwang’s government chose a strategic, people-first response—reinvest in mass transit.
“We believed one of the key sectors to address the challenges brought by the removal of fuel subsidy was transport,” Mutfwang said. “And so, we decided that the best way to bring subsidy directly back to the people was through the transport sector.” By opting to make transportation more accessible rather than offering mere cash handouts or sporadic relief items, the governor has demonstrated a commitment to sustainable empowerment over temporary appeasement. Each of the 30 buses now navigating Jos roads is a promise kept—and more than that, a visible testimony to a shift in governmental priorities. These aren’t refurbished or second-hand “Tokunbo” vehicles hurriedly imported to meet a deadline. They are brand-new investments, fully funded from the state’s constitutional allocations. Not a single naira came from federal grants or donor agencies.
In a political era where ribbon-cutting ceremonies are often followed by silence or broken systems, the Plateau State government is charting a different path—one where accountability meets ambition. And ambition there is. Governor Mutfwang has already hinted at “Plateau Express 3.0”, a future iteration of the transport vision that will further expand fleet size, routes, and digital ticketing systems. “Institutions don’t just succeed by themselves,” the governor added. “They thrive under clear and patriotic leadership.”
The metro buses may have captured headlines, but they are only one piece of a sprawling developmental puzzle taking shape under Mutfwang’s watch. On the same day the buses were unveiled, the governor also commissioned a new laboratory and paediatric ward at the Plateau State Specialist Hospital, an administrative block and a refurbished Joshua Dariye Hall at the Plateau State Polytechnic in Barkin Ladi, and critical roads and bridges in Utonkon and Abattoir areas of Jos. These investments signal a multi-sectoral commitment to rebuilding Plateau’s public service architecture.
Moreover, the administration is undertaking bold steps to revive other state-owned enterprises that once defined Plateau’s economic landscape—Jos International Breweries, Payam Fish Farm, Hill Station Hotel, Plateau Hotel, and ASTC. These are not vanity projects. They are strategic revival points aimed at job creation, skills transfer, and industrial regeneration. One of the most memorable moments during the bus launch came not from a speech or a statistic, but from a seat behind the steering wheel. For the first time in Plateau State history, a female driver officially joined the Plateau Express Service—a subtle yet powerful symbol of inclusivity and empowerment.
Governor Mutfwang beamed with pride as he recalled how, during his tenure as a local government chairman, he ensured three girls joined nine boys for automotive training. Today, that investment has borne fruit—challenging stereotypes and breaking gender barriers in a sector traditionally dominated by men. This is no token gesture. It is part of a broader gender empowerment policy that the governor is implementing through the Plateau Gender Policy and Youth Empowerment Scheme.
Jos is not just any city. Once the glittering capital of Nigeria’s tourism and mining hub, it has endured decades of social unrest, infrastructural decay, and political apathy. Yet, beneath its turbulent history lies a resilient spirit, waiting for the right leadership to awaken it. Governor Mutfwang’s efforts are reviving that spirit. As more buses hit the streets, they carry more than passengers. They carry school children to class, traders to markets, civil servants to offices, and patients to hospitals. They carry mothers with hopes and youth with dreams. In doing so, they carry trust—one trip at a time. It is that restored trust—between government and governed, between institutions and citizens—that may prove to be the greatest achievement of all.
While Plateau State is historically known for its mineral wealth, especially tin, the Mutfwang administration is signalling a shift—from extractive economics to inclusive development. And the transport sector is emerging as the metaphor for that shift: modern, purposeful, and grounded in public good. Already, plans are underway to transform the Jos Airport into an international cargo hub, further integrating the city into global value chains. Conversations with the federal government on reviving and modernising railway infrastructure are also gaining traction. These initiatives, taken together, paint a compelling picture: a government moving from reaction to strategy, from patchwork to progress.
The Plateau State Government has also recently reached a strategic agreement with the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT) to establish a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion centre and a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Mega Station in Jos—marking a significant step toward modernising the state’s transport infrastructure and promoting cleaner, more sustainable energy solutions. Disclosing this during the presentation of his ministry’s scorecard, the State Commissioner for Transport, Jatau Gyang Davou, revealed that a suitable location has already been identified for a temporary operational site, pending a refurbishment of the facility to meet required standards. According to him, the project represents a major leap in the state’s ambition to align with global trends in energy transition and environmentally friendly transportation.
As part of the broader collaboration, the Ministry of Transport has also concluded discussions with NITT to establish a full-fledged Training and Learning Centre in Jos, with commencement planned for September 2025. The Commissioner emphasized that this initiative stems from the urgent need to build a pool of skilled professionals—including drivers, technicians, and transport managers—who will effectively manage and sustain the state’s growing investments in the transport sector. “The institute will offer a range of professional and academic programs, including short- and long-term certificate courses, National Diplomas (ND), Advanced National Diplomas (AND), Postgraduate Diplomas (PGD), and Master’s degrees in transportation and logistics,” Hon. Davou stated.
Further reinforcing the state’s commitment to energy-efficient transportation, the Commissioner announced that the Ministry has secured approval from Greenville LNG Limited to establish a CNG conversion centre in Jos. This facility is expected to serve not only Plateau State but also neighbouring states across Nigeria’s north-eastern region, positioning Jos as a key player in the country’s transition to alternative fuels. To support this development, the government has approved a five-hectare parcel of land for the commencement of this foreign direct investment. The Commissioner noted that while the Certificate of Occupancy is currently being processed by the Ministry of Lands, Survey, and Town Planning, full project execution is expected to begin within six months.
On the policy front, Davou revealed that Governor Mutfwang has granted official approval for the development of a comprehensive, multimodal transport policy and master plan for Plateau State. The policy document, to be prepared by NITT, will serve as a data-driven, pragmatic framework to guide transport infrastructure planning and development across the state. “When completed, this transport policy and master plan will provide Plateau with a strategic blueprint for inclusive and sustainable mobility,” the Commissioner explained. “It will integrate road, rail, air, and non-motorised transport options, thereby strengthening Plateau State’s status as a regional hub for logistics, trade, and economic growth.”
The initiatives, he added, reflect the administration’s vision to transform Plateau into a modern, efficient, and environmentally responsible transportation landscape—one that empowers local professionals, attracts private investment, and contributes to Nigeria’s broader national development goals.
For a state long battered by infrastructure neglect, the arrival of 30 new buses is more than logistical progress. It is a statement. It is a reintroduction of governance that listens, acts, and delivers. The buses might be painted in colours and logos, but their real hues are those of hope, access, and progress. Governor Mutfwang ended his address with a call for collective responsibility: “We must protect these investments—not for me, not for my administration, but for the benefit of current and future generations.” It is a call worth heeding. Because in the story of a Tin City reclaiming its shine, every citizen has a role. Every street holds potential. And every ride on the Plateau Express is a journey towards the Plateau ideal—rising, thriving, and moving forward.
SOURCE: THENATION
