Security has been beefed up in Jos, the Plateau State capital, ahead of the arrival of President Bola Tinubu on Saturday for the All Progressives Congress (APC) North-Central presidential campaign rally.
Across several parts of the city, a heavy deployment of security personnel at strategic locations, including Hill Station Junction, Zaria Road, Polo Roundabout and sections of Yakubu Gowon Way was observed.
Security agencies have intensified surveillance across the city as preparations gather momentum for the presidential rally, scheduled to take place at the Jos International Stadium, also known as Zaria Road Stadium.
Vice President Kashim Shettima and his wife, Hajiya Nana Shettima, have already arrived in Jos ahead of the President’s visit.
The Vice President and his wife were received by Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, alongside other state governors, members of the National Assembly, senior government officials and APC leaders.
Tinubu is expected to address supporters at the rally.
The President is also expected to commission three major development projects executed by the Plateau State Government during his visit.
The projects include the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Centre in Jos, the Plateau Special Activity Centre (P-SAC) and 50 hybrid Jet Mover buses designed to improve transportation across the state’s 17 local government areas.
Ahead of the President’s visit, Governor Mutfwang, APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, and former Deputy Governor, Dame Pauline Tallen, inspected the facilities.
Speaking during the inspection of the BPO Centre, Mutfwang described the facility as a strategic investment in human capital development, job creation and economic empowerment.
According to a statement signed 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.
He disclosed that the facility has an operational capacity of 800 seats and is projected to generate up to 2,400 direct full-time jobs when fully deployed across three shifts.
Mutfwang said the centre would connect young people in Plateau State to opportunities in the global digital economy through customer experience management, technical support and back-office services.
He added that the facility would enable youths to work for international organisations without leaving Jos and earn in foreign currencies.