North Central · Capital: Jos
Plateau State
Governor: Caleb Mutfwang
Population
3,206,531
Land area
30,913 km²
Created
February 3, 1976
Governance
Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang (born 12 March 1965) has served as Governor of Plateau State since 29 May 2023, elected on the PDP platform before joining the APC in January 2026. A lawyer and former Chairman of Mangu LGA, his 2026 'Budget of Consolidation and Sustainability 2.0' totals ₦914.8 billion.
History
Plateau State was created on 3 February 1976 from the former Benue-Plateau State. Its capital, Jos, sits on the cool Jos Plateau at roughly 1,200 metres elevation, historically a major British colonial tin-mining centre, giving the state its 'Home of Peace and Tourism' nickname.
Natural Resources
Tin and columbite
Historic colonial-era mining resource that shaped Jos's growth as a British tin-mining hub.
Tourism
Nigeria's premier highland tourism destination, with a temperate climate and scenic rock formations around Jos, though the state has also faced periodic communal tensions.
- Shere Hills
- Riyom Rock
- Wildlife Park, Jos
- Assop Falls
Agriculture
Cool highland climate supports temperate crops uncommon elsewhere in Nigeria, including Irish potatoes, alongside the tin-mining legacy that shaped much of Jos's development.
Irish potato · Maize · Acha (fonio) · Yam · Tomato
Investment
The 2026 budget of ₦914.8 billion continues infrastructure work across Jos North and Bassa LGAs, alongside a historic tin and columbite mining legacy the state is working to formalize.
Solid minerals (tin & columbite) · Agriculture · Tourism · Manufacturing
Infrastructure
Education
University of Jos · Plateau State University