Business
Plateau Spends N600m To Remodel Indoor Arts Theatre
The Plateau
Government said it spent N600 million to remodel and expand the Luka Bent Indoor Arts Theatre Complex in Jos.
The Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr Abraham Yiljap, made this known when he addressed newsmen after inspecting ongoing projects in the ministry last Thursday.
Yiljap said that when completed the theatre would boost the internally generated revenue of the state government.
He expressed satisfaction with ongoing work at theatre complex, stressing that the complex would be a utility centre.
The Tide reports that indoor theatre complex has a 2,500 capacity hall, five conference halls, two eateries, space for bank, offices, shops for rent, IT centres, among others.
Yiljap said that the Governor Jonah Jang-led administration had recorded great success in improving the tourism sector which had the potential to be a major source of income for the state.
He said that when fully developed, tourism could generate more funds than agriculture and could only be compared with the oil sector.
The commissioner said that there was need for public-private partnership to take the sector to an enviable height.
Yiljap said that Plateau was richly endowed with beautiful natural and man-made tourists’ sites, which if private investors partner with government to develop, would enhance the sector.
“We need serious investors, people who have the capacity to keep the project going.
“We want people who can come in, see, put their money down to drive the economy of the state while they recoup their investment,’’ he said.
Yiljap listed some of the areas that needed partnership to include Rayfield Resort, Roc Hotel and Jos hotels.
“But before we invite investors to take over the Rayfield Resort, we will develop it to a certain level to add to its value so that we will stand in a better position when negotiating with the investors.
“We will acquire more land for the resort and set it as a unique place. We will fence it and then we will put a few other items on ground and then look for investors,’’ he said.
On the 218-room Roc Hotel, which was abandoned for over 30 years, the commissioner said that the state government would look for investors who would partner with it to complete the edifice.
“Jos hotels, we will look at the options the management has put on the table, do a few things and look for some serious investors to co-own it and drive the economy of the state.’’
Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.
Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.
The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.
Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.
“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.
“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”
Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.
In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.
Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.
Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.
