For decades, the uncompleted Lamingo 300-bed 5-Star Hotel, owned by the Plateau State Government, has remained an imposing but lifeless structure, symbolising abandoned projects and missed economic opportunities in the state.
Located strategically near the Lamingo Dam, the hotel was envisioned as a flagship hospitality project that would position Jos as a major tourism and business hub in the North Central region, outside Abuja. However, successive administrations have failed to complete the project, leaving it to decay.
An investigation by Headlineswave.ng reveals growing public frustration, with many residents calling on Governor Caleb Mutfwang to take decisive action and revive the long-abandoned project.
Voices from the Streets
During street interviews conducted across Jos North and Jos East, residents expressed mixed emotions—hope, anger, and cautious optimism.
Mr. Bitrus Gyang, a taxi driver in Lamingo, said the project could have transformed the area:
“This hotel for don change this place long ago. People for dey come from Abuja, Bauchi, even outside Nigeria. Instead, na bush and abandoned building we dey see every day.”
Mrs. Rhoda Pwajok, a small business owner in Farin Gada, described the hotel as “a painful reminder”:
“Anytime I pass there, I feel sad. Government keeps talking about tourism, but this one is right here, wasting away. Completing it will help people like us that depend on visitors.”
A youth leader, Daniel Longdi, stressed the employment angle:
“Thousands of youths would have been working there—security, cleaners, management, suppliers. Instead, youths are idle. This is not just about a hotel; it’s about jobs.”
Accountability and Expectations
Residents interviewed acknowledged that Governor Mutfwang inherited the project but insisted that leadership is ultimately judged by action, not excuses.
Mallam Sadiq Musa, a resident, told Headlineswave.ng:
“We know he didn’t start it, but he has the chance to finish it. History will not ask who abandoned it; history will be kind to who completed it.”
Some respondents urged transparency, calling for the government to publicly disclose the project’s status, cost implications, and possible public-private partnership options if funding is an issue.
A Test of Political Will
Analysts say completing the Lamingo 5-Star Hotel would send a strong signal about the government’s commitment to economic revival, tourism development, and prudent use of public assets.
With Plateau State seeking to have a strong image and economy, many believe the abandoned hotel presents a rare opportunity to convert a long-standing symbol of failure into one of progress.
As one inscription echoed by several residents put it: “Turn abandoned concrete into progress.”
For now, the structure still stands—silent, unfinished, and decaying while Plateau citizens wait to see whether this administration will finally write a different ending to its story.
