By MAPIS ISAAC JONATHAN MAWARES

BOKKOS LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCIL EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN, HON. AMALAU SAMUEL AMALAU, ACCELERATES RURAL INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN KULERE AXIS, EXPANDS ROAD GRADING PROJECTS TO STIMULATE ECONOMIC GROWTH, ENHANCE ACCESSIBILITY, AND IMPROVE COMMUNITY WELL-BEING

Hon. Amalau Samuel Amalau, the Executive Chairman of Bokkos Local Government Council, has reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to providing significant benefits to the grassroots by continuing the grading of rural roads and developing other essential infrastructure throughout the Bokkos Local Government Area. This initiative seeks to improve accessibility, drive economic growth, and boost the overall well-being of residents, particularly those in rural areas.

Aligned with Hon. Amalau’s vision for fostering sustainable development and enhancing the living conditions of local communities, the dedicated Chairman has made the rehabilitation and grading of key roads within the KULERE AXIS a top priority. These roads are essential arteries for farmers, traders, students, healthcare providers, security personnel, and other road users who rely heavily on dependable transportation networks for their daily activities.

As part of these ongoing initiatives, the DAFFO-TO-AMBUL/BARGESH Road has been effectively graded and is now in excellent condition for travel. This improved road infrastructure has greatly facilitated movement in the region, allowing residents safer and more convenient access to nearby communities and economic hubs.

In the same vein, the AMBUL/BARGESH-TO-TOFF Road has undergone thorough grading and is currently in top-notch motorable condition. The successful completion of this section is anticipated to enhance the transportation of agricultural goods.

‘Other critical roads within the axis will receive the desired attention. These include the KULERE MARKET KUKUT-TO-RICHA TOWN Road, KULERE MARKET KUKUT-TO-AMBANG Road, AMBANG-TO-KAMWAI Road, and the KAMWAI-TO-TUKEH/KANGIL Road. The planned interventions underscore the administration’s determination to ensure that no community is left behind in the ongoing infrastructural transformation of Bokkos Local Government Area.

During an impromptu inspection tour conducted on Saturday, June 20, 2026, Hon. Amos Sunday Akiri, Principal Assistant to the Executive Chairman, visited the project sites to assess the quality and pace of work. Following the inspection, he expressed satisfaction with the progress recorded thus far and commended the commitment of those involved in executing the projects.

While acknowledging the remarkable progress made, Hon. Akiri appealed for the speedy completion of the remaining road segments before the onset of heavy and frequent rainfall. According to him, timely, Completion of the projects will ensure that residents derive maximum benefit from the intervention and prevent weather-related disruptions that could affect construction activities and distort vehicular mobility.

The ongoing grading of rural roads across the Kulere Axis is a clear reflection of Hon. Amalau’s dedication to responsive governance and people-centered leadership. By providing accessible roads and other relevant infrastructure, the administration continues to create an enabling environment for economic growth, agricultural productivity, social development, and improved living standards for the people of Bokkos Local Government Area. The Council remains committed to sustaining these efforts in pursuit of a more prosperous, connected, and resilient Bokkos for all.

Signed:
MAPIS ISAAC JONATHAN MARAWES,
Director of Media and Publicity,
Office of the Executive Chairman,
Bokkos Local Government Council.

The recent judgment of the Plateau State High Court recognizing Fatima Baba Akawu as an indigene of Jos North Local Government Area has reopened one of the most contentious and long-standing debates in Plateau State — the question of who qualifies as an indigene of Jos. While the ruling has sparked intense reactions across ethnic, political and religious divides, attention has increasingly shifted to the findings of the Justice Niki Tobi Judicial Commission of Inquiry, widely regarded as one of the most authoritative examinations of the historical roots of the Jos indigeneity question.

Established in the aftermath of the September 2001 Jos crisis, the commission was mandated to investigate the causes of the violence that claimed hundreds of lives and caused widespread destruction. In the course of its work, the panel reviewed historical records, colonial archives and testimonies from traditional rulers, historians, community leaders and various ethnic groups. One of its central conclusions was that the area now known as Jos was inhabited long before colonial rule and the advent of tin mining. According to the commission, the Berom, Afizere and Anaguta communities exercised traditional authority over the area and constitute the indigenous populations of Jos.

The commission rejected claims that Jos was founded by migrant communities or developed on previously unoccupied land, arguing instead that colonial expansion transformed an already existing indigenous settlement into a modern urban centre. While acknowledging the significant contributions of Hausa, Fulani, Igbo, Yoruba, Tiv, Nupe and other migrant communities to the growth of Jos, the report maintained that economic and social contributions did not alter the historical ownership of the land. It further drew a distinction between citizenship, residence and indigeneity, emphasizing that indigene status within Nigeria’s administrative framework has traditionally been linked to ancestry and historical origin rather than duration of residence.

The debate has gained renewed momentum following Justice C. Donglong’s June 2026 ruling, which held that Fatima Baba Akawu, a Hausa woman born and raised in Jos North, was entitled to an indigene certificate based on her father’s status and circumstances of birth. The judgment also declared the issuance of residential certificates as an alternative to indigene certificates unlawful. While former Governor Jonah Jang and other stakeholders have argued that indigeneity must remain tied to historically recognized indigenous communities, Islamic scholar Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir has maintained that generations of residence and contribution to the development of Jos should be considered in determining belonging. As appeals loom and public debate intensifies, the Niki Tobi Commission’s findings remain a key reference point in discussions about identity, citizenship, indigeneity and peaceful coexistence in one of Nigeria’s most diverse cities.