By SN24.com 
By Peter Akpah.
_Trade Fair extended by two days to boost patronage_
*Jos —* The Honourable Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Plateau State, Hon. Musa Ibrahim Ashoms, has described the ongoing 11th Jos National Trade Fair 2026 as unique and a gateway to shared prosperity.
Speaking with journalists at the Jos Polo Field, venue of the Fair, Hon. Ashoms urged Plateau citizens and business owners to take full advantage of the Trade Fair to shop for the season and expand their business frontiers.
The Trade Fair, themed *“Harnessing Agricultural and Livestock Value Chains for Food Security, Job Creation and Shared Prosperity,”* was earlier scheduled to end on 31st October, 2026, but has now been extended by two days due to public interest.
“We are here at the Jos Polo Field, venue of the 11th Jos National Trade Fair, which was supposed to end on the 31st. But because of the love our people have for commerce, industry, agriculture and livestock, which our theme is centered around, we have decided to extend it by two days so that our people will enjoy the full benefits of this Trade Fair,” Ashoms said.
“This is a yearly event, but due to certain logistics, we skipped some years. Now that we are back, we are using this medium to call on our Plateau people to come out in their numbers, in their droves, to benefit from this arrangement and enjoy this shared prosperity, because the land is green and the time is now. We should not allow this kind of opportunity to pass us by,” he added.
Speaking on behalf of His Excellency, Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, the Plateau State Chamber of Commerce, Mines and Agriculture (PLACCIMA) and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Commissioner declared that Plateau is ready for business.
“Government, in its benevolence, has increased the number of days because of the initial glitches we encountered. Plateau people should come and expand their business horizon and expose themselves to new business opportunities,” he stated.
“We want to thank the general public and our exhibitors who came from all over Nigeria to be part of this Trade Fair. Trade Fairs used to make the city agog and we don’t want this one to be an exception. We want people to come out and experience what we are experiencing here.”
*New Innovations, New Opportunities*
On what is new at this year’s edition, Ashoms said visitors would be exposed to new innovations, especially around agriculture and livestock value chains.
“When people go around, they will see new things for themselves. The world is evolving, things are not static. There are a lot of new innovations. I wouldn’t want to market for the exhibitors, but when people come, they will see. It is centered around agriculture and livestock, how we can share prosperity and the opportunities therein,” he said.
He cited the state government’s construction of an ultra-modern abattoir at Heipang as a major step towards harnessing the livestock ecosystem.
“That abattoir will open new vistas and new opportunities for our people. The benefits are enormous and we want our people to key in,” he noted.
He commended PLACCIMA, the Plateau State Government, exhibitors and the media for their support, stressing that Plateau is business-minded.
“Plateau is open to business, Plateau is business-minded. We have a Governor that is ready to help Plateau businesses to boom. At the end of the day, we will say we came, our lives are better, and we are enjoying the dividends. That is the spine of this administration. The time is now,” Ashoms said.
*Plateau is Safe for Business*
Responding to concerns about insecurity, the Commissioner assured exhibitors and visitors that Plateau remains safe for business and investment.
“We place a high premium on the lives of our people. Plateau is safe. Like any other place in the country and abroad, you have challenges. Not long ago, even Riyadh airport was attacked. In Ukraine and Russia there are issues, but people don’t avoid going to those places when they have business to do,” he argued.
“There has never been a time that all 17 Local Government Areas of Plateau were on fire. This is the city centre, where people have intellectual discourse and business interests, and when they come, nobody disrupts their peace. The negative narrative is coming from naysayers, people who do not want Plateau to progress. But they have no choice. We have a new sheriff in town. If you check lately, you do not hear issues of killings from left, right and centre. It has reduced drastically and we hope to sustain that momentum,” he added.
He thanked security agencies for maintaining peace and said the confidence reposed in Plateau is evident, as major national political campaigns are choosing the state as a destination.
“As a government, we are not relenting. We are putting in efforts to ensure Plateau remains safe and conducive for business,” he concluded.