The Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Capital Territory (ARD-FCT), has embarked on a seven-day warning strike.
The decision was announced in a communiqué signed by the association’s President, Dr George Ebong, alongside other executive members.
According to the doctors, the FCT health system is plagued by long-standing systemic failures that require urgent and comprehensive reforms.
Dr Ebong noted that resident doctors in the territory are working under intense pressure, often forced to cover multiple departments due to manpower shortages.
This year’s edition is more than a fashion show — it is a cultural movement. The Regal Renaissance calls on designers, historians, cultural custodians, and artists to explore, revive, and reimagine Africa’s royal legacy through the lens of contemporary fashion. By bridging the past and present, this celebration highlights the richness of African traditions while making them accessible and inspiring to today’s generation.
Objectives of the 2025 Theme: Cultural Preservation: To promote and protect the legacy of African royal dress and adornment traditions by educating the public on their historical significance.
Fashion Innovation: To inspire designers to creatively fuse royal heritage with modern trends, creating designs that are both fashionable and culturally grounded.
Tourism Promotion: To position African royal heritage as a key driver for fashion tourism, cultural tourism, and heritage-based economic development.
Empowerment: To uplift African artisans, weavers, tailors, and creatives whose crafts are rooted in tradition, giving them a global platform to thrive.
Pan-African Unity: To celebrate the diversity and unity of African kingdoms, emirates, and chiefdoms through a shared showcase of regality and pride.
What to Expect:
Royal Runway Shows: Featuring collections inspired by regal dress from across Africa — from the Yoruba Obas and Zulu royalty, to the Ashanti, Kanuri, Fulani, Benin, Ndebele, and Berber dynasties.
Cultural Exhibitions: Showcasing traditional fabrics, crowns, beadwork, and royal artifacts.
Panel Discussions & Workshops: Featuring cultural historians, fashion scholars, royal representatives, and designers to discuss the evolution of African royal fashion.
Award Ceremony (ACFA): Honoring designers, custodians of tradition, and influencers who have contributed to preserving and promoting African cultural identity through fashion.
Destination Africa Showcase: Highlighting royal palaces, fashion museums, and cultural tourism hotspots across the continent.
On October 26th, all eyes will be on Jos, Plateau State, as Zang Global officially unveils its groundbreaking renewable energy innovations developed from electronic waste. The company, founded by visionary CEO Zang Luka Bot, is set to showcase how discarded gadgets and condemned batteries can be transformed into powerful solutions for Africa’s persistent electricity challenges.
For Zang, this unveiling is more than just a corporate milestone, it represents the fulfillment of a personal journey. Inspired by the need to tackle Africa’s unreliable power supply, he began experimenting with electronic waste, determined to create solutions that were both sustainable and affordable.
“My innovation journey was inspired by the need to solve Africa’s power supply problems,” Zang explained. “This challenge pushed me into experimenting with electronic waste, where I discovered valuable components and successfully built my first power solution after several failed trials.”
The CEO’s path has been unconventional. Though he began his education in the arts, his curiosity pushed him toward science, where he independently conducted research and hands-on experiments. His determination eventually led him to study computer science, giving him the technical background to refine his discoveries. This blend of creativity and technical expertise now forms the backbone of Zang Global’s approach to recycling and renewable technology.
Currently, Zang Global sources 70 percent of its raw materials locally from discarded electronics, including laptop batteries, while importing the remaining 30 percent. Through careful rejuvenation and repurposing, the company transforms waste into functional lithium batteries and other critical components. This not only reduces environmental pollution but also advances sustainability in a continent where proper waste management remains a pressing issue.
Beyond recycling, the unveiling will highlight Zang Global’s vision for solar-powered innovations designed to expand access to electricity in underserved communities. With over 600 million Africans still living without reliable power, such innovations hold immense potential for both social and economic transformation.
Yet, challenges persist. Zang points to limited resources for automation as a major obstacle to scaling up production. Nevertheless, he remains undeterred. “Zang Global’s projection is to expand beyond Plateau State and Nigeria, targeting Africa and global markets,” he said, stressing the ambition to make African-born solutions part of global conversations on renewable energy.
The upcoming launch also symbolizes a larger movement, the idea that African innovators can turn local problems into global opportunities. By harnessing e-waste, Zang Global is not only lighting up homes but also reducing carbon footprints, creating jobs, and inspiring a new generation of thinkers to view waste as a resource.
As October 26th approaches, anticipation grows for what Zang Global will reveal. For many, it is a glimpse into a future where innovation, sustainability, and determination converge to solve Africa’s toughest challenges. For Zang Luka Bot, it is proof that even from discarded e-waste, a brighter and cleaner future can emerge.
The grand finale of the Off-the-Street Empowerment Project held on 4th September 2025 at Crispan Hotel, Jos, drawing community leaders, government officials, sponsors, NYSC representatives, and beneficiaries together in a celebration of impact and youth transformation.
The event marked the culmination of weeks of training, mentorship, and empowerment for 20 young participants selected from Kufang community, Jos South. It showcased not only the vision of Corps member Tertsea Iorpuu Murphy and his team, the initiator of the project, but also the collective support of stakeholders who believe in equipping youths with sustainable skills to combat idleness and foster economic independence.
Representatives of government agencies, community leaders, sponsors, parents, and beneficiaries all expressed heartfelt gratitude, underscoring the project’s significance not only to the participants but also to the wider Plateau community.
The NYSC Local Government Inspector for Jos South, Mr. Kachalla Hamza, expressed pride in Murphy’s vision and commitment. “When he came to me with this idea, I encouraged him. I was pleasantly surprised when he showed me the list of partners supporting him. To the beneficiaries, I urge you to use the training and the tools given today wisely. In today’s Nigeria, one source of livelihood is not enough—you need skills to survive,” he advised.
In the same spirit, Community Leader, Da Francis Choji, reflected on how the project started with a simple request for idle youths in the community to be mobilized. “I never knew today would be a grateful day like this. The youth have received their training, and I pray they will use it well to help themselves, others, and those coming behind,” he remarked, while also offering prayers for the Corps Member and his team.
The representative of Mrs. Julie G. Sanda, Director General of the Plateau Peace Building Agency, conveyed her message of support, emphasizing the importance of youth empowerment in peacebuilding. “Since 2001, many young people in Plateau have not experienced true peace. This initiative by Murphy is not only fulfilling NYSC requirements but leaving behind a legacy of hope, strength, and peaceful coexistence. We were inspired to partner because he identified the role of youths in both conflict and peace. This project is indeed gigantic, and we are proud to support it,” she said.
One of the sponsors, Mrs. Violet Adama Kaburuk, described Murphy as a “son of the Plateau” whom she had mentored closely. “He has done us proud, his parents proud, Benue people proud, and the NYSC proud. To the beneficiaries, don’t take this for granted. Use your start-up kits wisely and always remember Murphy and his family in your prayers,” she urged.
In an emotional tribute, Sir James Iorpuu, Murphy’s father and Executive Secretary of Benue State Emergency Management Agency, expressed pride in his son’s achievement. “This project is not just a program, it is a mission. Twenty young people have been given tools for destiny and livelihood. I have always told my son that the true measure of a man is not what he accumulates for himself, but in the number of lives he transforms. Today, Murphy has proven that truth,” he said, urging beneficiaries to multiply the opportunities given to them.
DG Aondoaseer Leo-Angelo Viashima commended Corps member Tertsea Murphy’s Off-the-Street Empowerment Program as exemplary service. Reflecting on his NYSC journey, he noted how mentorship shaped his international career. He stressed that NYSC can “form or deform” lives, urging youths to embrace diligence, discipline, and selflessness to drive community transformation.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the Plateau State Emergency Management Agency, Mr. Sunday Abdu, described Murphy as a “quintessential young man” whose project would outlive him. Drawing on biblical references, he encouraged the beneficiaries to see their start-up kits not just as material gifts but as seeds of greatness. “What you have now is a small beginning—never look down on it. Use it to stand and fly higher. This initiative will ripple through generations, and I pledge to support and follow up with these youths even beyond this program,” he promised.
Adding his voice, Rt. Hon. Johnbull Shekarau commended Murphy’s courage to give back to a community that is not even his native home. “This shows there is hope for Nigeria. The Igbo are successful because they raise one another. If we all commit to lifting just one person, the impact will multiply across generations. Empowerment like this is not just about the present; it is about shaping the future,” he said.
In his address, Tertsea Murphy Iorpuu explained that the empowerment project was inspired by the need to curb youth idleness and social vices in Kufang by equipping young people with sustainable skills for financial independence. Twenty participants received start-up equipment to immediately launch businesses, with a monitoring system in place to track progress. He expressed gratitude to government agencies, sponsors, NYSC officials, media partners, and his family for their support. Addressing beneficiaries, he urged discipline, wise use of the tools provided, and the replication of knowledge through training others. He called for collective action to build a society of opportunity.
One of the beneficiaries, Miss Nancy Mancha, could not hide her joy. “I really appreciate this big opportunity they gave us about this program. Before now, I was just finishing my secondary school. This program is a huge opportunity for me, and I will make sure to use it well,” she said, radiating gratitude.
The event climaxed with the presentation of start-up equipment to the 20 beneficiaries, who were trained in vocations such as baking, shoemaking, make-up artistry, and others.
In a bid to ease healthcare burdens of Jos North residents, the Hajiya Riyan Adamu Charity Foundation has partnered with the Plateau State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (PLASCHEMA) to provide free health insurance to more than 300 people in the community. The initiative, fully sponsored by Hon. Dr. Adamu Aliyu, Member representing Jos North-North in the Plateau State House of Assembly, is designed to ease the burden of medical expenses and expand access to affordable healthcare.
Speaking on the intervention, Coordinator of the Foundation, Aliyu Muwaffak Gudus, explained that many residents of Jos North cannot afford even basic drugs, a challenge that prompted the sponsorship. “This initiative was created to lessen the hardship of our people when it comes to accessing healthcare. By covering the premiums for 300 beneficiaries, we are reaching the grassroots communities where medical care is most needed,” he said.
The insurance package purchased by the foundation covers premiums worth ₦12,000 each for one year. Head of Enrollment at PLASCHEMA, Josh Dagean, confirmed that the scheme will enable enrollees to access healthcare at highly subsidized rates. He explained that beneficiaries would only pay 10% of medical bills while the insurance shoulders the rest. Vulnerable groups, including pregnant women, persons living with diabetes, sickle cell disease, and disabilities, were among those enrolled.
While presenting insurance cards to some of the beneficiaries, Hon. Dr. Adamu Aliyu expressed his satisfaction with the initiative. He recalled his experience as a civil servant, noting that it helped him understand the importance of health insurance in reducing people’s suffering. “This is a government-backed program introduced under former Governor Simon Bako Lalong, and I commend the legislation that continues to strengthen it. Our people deserve healthcare relief, and this program is one step towards achieving that,” he said.
Dr. Aliyu further encouraged beneficiaries to take full advantage of the scheme, highlighting that it was designed to significantly reduce hospital bills for citizens. He praised the collaborative effort between the foundation and PLASCHEMA, describing it as an example of leadership rooted in compassion and responsibility.
Godwin Okechukwu, representing the Forum of Desk Officers for Health Insurance, urged the beneficiaries to use the scheme responsibly. He stressed that while most medical needs are covered, exclusions apply to cases such as injuries from domestic violence or risky adventures. “This scheme is here to serve you, but it requires responsible usage for sustainability,” he cautioned.
Also speaking at the event, Mrs. Joe Bukar, wife of the Plateau State House of Assembly member representing Shendam, applauded the effort of Hajiya Riyan Adamu and Hon. Dr. Aliyu. She called on other lawmakers to replicate such interventions in their constituencies, noting that healthcare support is one of the most direct ways to impact lives positively.
Beneficiaries expressed their gratitude in heartfelt words. Saratu Babaji, Women Leader of Angwan Rogo/Rimi, described Hajiya Riyan Adamu as “a kind and devoted woman whose commitment to the people is evident in this gesture.” She praised both the foundation and Dr. Aliyu as exemplary leaders. Another beneficiary, Sani Aliwal Hassan, commended the program as a welcome idea and urged more stakeholders to emulate the initiative in order to support vulnerable communities.
The initiative, according to stakeholders, not only provides relief for struggling families but also reinforces the importance of health insurance as a tool for achieving universal healthcare coverage in Plateau State.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken a hardline stance against former governors Nyesom Wike, Samuel Ortom, Ayo Fayose, Okezie Ikpeazu, and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi after they issued a six-point ultimatum to the National Working Committee (NWC), declaring that the party will not be blackmailed or hijacked.
The clash came to a head in Abuja on Tuesday at the inauguration of the 2025 National Convention Organising Committee (Main Committee), where PDP National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum; Bauchi State Governor and Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Bala Mohammed; Chairman of the Convention Committee and Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri; and former Senate President and Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Senator Adolphus Wabara, represented by former Kaduna Governor, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, openly confronted the threats to the party’s unity.
Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, and his allies had demanded fresh congresses in Ebonyi and Anambra in line with court rulings, a new South East Zonal Congress, immediate conduct of Ekiti LGA congresses, respect for the South South Congress outcome upheld by the courts, an end to micro-zoning beyond the NEC’s approved formula, and retention of the National Chairmanship in the North Central. They warned that failure to comply would render the forthcoming convention invalid.
But Bala Mohammed was blunt in his response, warning that PDP governors would not allow the party to be dragged into self-destruction.
“We are not cowards. We are not afraid of anybody. But we cannot continue to keep quiet and allow people to take us to the slaughterhouse. That is their job. Our job is to make sure we don’t go to the slaughterhouse. We will not allow it. Accommodation does not mean stupidity. If anybody wants to form a faction of fools, we will allow him to go and do so,” he declared, sending a direct shot at Wike and his camp.
“We are working with the National Working Committee to ensure discipline is maintained. PDP is the only party that has remained consistent since 1999, and we will not allow anybody to take it for granted. Enough is enough,” he added.
National Chairman Umar Iliya Damagum reinforced the defiance, declaring that the party would not break under pressure.
“Today, I say with conviction that the PDP is not broken. The PDP is not defeated. The PDP is marching forward; stronger, more determined, and better prepared to reclaim the presidency of this great country and rebuild Nigeria from the mismanagement of the current ruling party,” Damagum thundered.
He went further, accusing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of backing internal saboteurs in order to destabilise the PDP.
“The ruling party has shown no regard for democracy. Their only interest lies in disenfranchising voters and stealing mandates. Just as our founding fathers once challenged the military, we too must rescue Nigeria’s democracy from undemocratic forces,” he charged.
Senator Ahmed Makarfi, representing Senator Wabara, appealed for restraint but also warned that the majority would not be held hostage by a few.
“The work of the convention planning committee is quite challenging. It is not about excluding anybody, but it is also not about denying the majority their right to prevail, because that is what democracy is about. A convention is not about 100 per cent agreement, but about the overwhelming majority. That is what must be reflected at the convention,” Makarfi said.
Convention Committee Chairman, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, vowed to deliver a free and fair convention, making it clear that no amount of pressure from within or outside the party would derail the process.
“I will not place our relationships above this party. I will deliver on my assignment. Nobody will be denied the chance to contest any position. Buy the forms, submit them, and test your popularity before the delegates. That is how democracy works,” he declared.
Taking aim at PDP members who frequently escalate issues to the press, Fintiri lashed out: “Let us not take all our matters to the media. It is becoming too embarrassing. If you are a party man, you settle issues within the party. We will not allow indiscipline and blackmail to derail this process.”
He assured members that his committee would deliver ‘the fairest and most credible convention ever’ and called on them to rise above selfish interests.
“The Secretariat is open, the work begins now, and I call on all members of the committee to sacrifice personal comfort to ensure that we deliver a transparent, successful convention that will send a clear message: PDP is alive, PDP is united, and PDP is ready to take power,” Fintiri said.
Party leaders made it clear they would no longer bend to threats. While Wike and his allies may have set demands, the PDP leadership insisted the party’s future will be guided by discipline, majority will, and readiness to return to power.
Christian youths from Benue, Southern Bauchi, Southern Kaduna, and Plateau State have issued a strong call for urgent government intervention in what they described as coordinated attacks, displacement, and religious persecution of indigenous Christian communities across the Middle Belt.
The coalition, comprising leaders from the Universal Reformed Christian Church (NKST), Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), and the Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN), addressed a joint press conference on Friday where they condemned the killings, destruction of farmlands, and forceful occupation of ancestral lands in the region.
According to the youths, the violence is often misrepresented as farmers-herders clashes, communal disputes, or attacks by “unknown gunmen.” They argued that such descriptions mask the true nature of the crisis, which they insisted amounts to a deliberate campaign of ethnic cleansing and religious persecution.
“We are disturbed by the continuous killings and destruction in our communities. Bullets and machetes do not recognize denominational boundaries. Catholic, Anglican, ECWA, COCIN, NKST—all are targets,” the statement read.
The youths said many victims had been killed, displaced, kidnapped, or subjected to rape and abduction, while minors were being forcefully converted. They also pointed to systemic discrimination, citing the denial of civil service opportunities, refusal to implement gazetted chiefdoms such as the Zaar Chiefdom in Bauchi State, and imposition of non-indigenous leaders on Christian-majority communities.
Their Demands
The coalition outlined a series of demands they believe are critical to restoring peace and justice in the Middle Belt: 1. Recognition of the true nature of the crisis – Rejecting the narrative of “farmers-herders clashes” and naming the violence for what it is: deliberate ethnic cleansing. 2. Return of displaced persons – Immediate and permanent return of displaced Christians to their ancestral homes, not mere resettlement. 3. Land rights – Issuance of Certificates of Occupancy to displaced persons over their ancestral lands to affirm their legal titles. 4. Farmers’ rights – Legal protection for farmers to cultivate their farmlands without harassment from cattle herders. 5. Disarmament of attackers – Government action to seize sophisticated weapons from extremists to prevent communities from resorting to armed self-defense. 6. Justice and accountability – Arrest and prosecution of perpetrators, stressing that “they are not spirits.” 7. Security reform – Impartial and professional conduct by security forces in protecting lives and property without religious bias. 8. Speedy trials – Immediate trials for indigenous Christian youths detained by security agencies. 9. Equitable governance – Equal distribution of state resources and opportunities regardless of religion. 10. Respect for traditional authority – Recognition of the right of Zaar people in Bauchi State to freely choose their chief without imposition. 11. Security architecture review – Strengthening community policing to restore confidence in security agencies.
The youths cautioned that continued silence and politicization of the crisis could worsen instability in the country.
“Meeting these demands will restore the faith of our people in the Nigerian State and demonstrate that government is committed to justice, which is fundamental to peace,” they declared.
History was made in Plateau State as Lingzhi Global successfully hosted the maiden edition of the Coffee Festival International Nigeria. The prestigious event drew coffee producers and stakeholders from across the globe, including Ethiopia, Brazil, Ghana, South Africa, Rwanda, Zambia, Tanzania, and others, positioning Plateau as a new hub for global coffee culture and trade.
In her welcome address, the CEO of Lingzhi Global Nigeria Ltd., Blessing Nanman, described the International Coffee Festival as the first of its kind in Nigeria, with participants from over 30 countries. She said the event was designed to promote skills development and showcase the rich heritage of Plateau State through coffee.
Nanman revealed that the vision of Lingzhi Global is to create over 10,000 jobs within the first three years by building a sustainable coffee value chain. According to her, both government and the private sector would be involved to drive economic growth.
She further urged Nigerians, especially the people of Plateau, to embrace patience, sacrifice, and unity in order to achieve their dreams. She prayed that the festival would renew belief in the greatness of Nigeria and open opportunities to share the state’s fertile land and natural resources with the world.
Declaring the Coffee Festival International Nigeria open, Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Arc. Samuel Nanchang Jatau, said coffee is a key cash crop for Plateau State.
He noted that his administration is committed to developing the value chain and encouraging young people to embrace entrepreneurship. “Plateau is safe, full of culture, and blessed with the best weather and the best quality coffee,” he said.
The Governor praised Lingzhi Global CEO, Blessing Nanman, for promoting coffee and Plateau internationally. He also announced the government’s support with a one-million-naira purchase of 20 copies of her newly launched Lindsay Coffee magazine.
Dr. Ehindame Paul, President of the Coffee and Tea Association, explained that Nigeria’s coffee industry collapsed in the 1980s due to global price crashes, the exit of the United States from the International Coffee Organization, and the Structural Adjustment Program. He noted that many farmers abandoned coffee after government commodity boards were scrapped.
According to him, the government is now reviving the sector with private sector support through the Coffee Association of Nigeria. Paul praised Plateau State for its role and described coffee as Nigeria’s “real crude oil,” stressing that it can create huge job opportunities for young people.
Former Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen, also praised Blessing Nanman for bringing the Coffee Festival International to Plateau State. “This event has placed Plateau on the global coffee map,” she said, urging government and farmers to keep supporting the project.
She added that coffee can create jobs and transform lives, noting that Plateau is blessed and destined to become a global hub for coffee.
Brazilian coffee specialist, Rebecca Nogueira, described the Coffee Festival International in Nigeria as “an amazing movement” with great potential. She said, “If Nigeria decides to make coffee a big industry, it is possible, and Brazil is ready to support from seed to cup.”
Nogueira praised Madam Blessing Nanman for driving the festival and revealed that she and her colleague, Natalia, were invited to explore possible collaboration between Brazil and Nigeria.
The Coffee Festival International in Jos also thrilled guests with cultural performances by Dantala, Asharuwa dancers, and Afri Theater Abuja, while special appearances from Anthony Amaechi Umeh, Lilian Uchenna, Nwosu Ngozi, and veteran actor Francis Duru added glamour to the event.
Hon. Dachung Musa Bagos has called on leaders and faithfuls of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to resolve all pending issues and unite the party ahead of 2027 general elections.
This came during the PDP Northern Zone caucus meeting where His Excellency, Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, was formally endorsed for the 2027 governorship race in Plateau State.
Speaking at the event, Da Jonah Jang, a founding father of the party and former Governor of Plateau State, thanked the Northern Zone caucus for the confidence and support given to Governor Mutfwang. He further accepted the endorsement on behalf of the Governor, describing it as a step toward strengthening the PDP family.
Bagos emphasized that genuine reconciliation and unity remain key to sustaining good governance and securing victory for the PDP in Plateau State. In his words: “Let’s us not be cosmetic with the truth instead, let us come together to correct the betrayals by some party members during the last congresses”
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has announced an upward review of fees for the Nigerian Standard Passport, with the new charges set to take effect from September 1, 2025.
Under the new structure, the 32-page passport with a five-year validity will now cost ₦100,000, while the 64-page passport with a 10-year validity will be priced at ₦200,000.
NIS disclosed this in a statement by its spokesperson, ACI AS Akinlabi, on Thursday.
NIS said the revised fees only affect Passport Application fees made within Nigeria and that the adjustment is intended to maintain the quality and integrity of the passport.
“In a bid to uphold the quality and integrity of the Nigerian Passport, the Nigeria Immigration Service hereby announces an upward review of Nigerian Stardard Passport fees, set to take effect on 1st September, 2025,” NIS announced.
“The review which only affect Passport Application fees made in Nigeria, now set a new fee thresholds for 32-page with 5-year validity at N100,000 and 64-page with 10-year validity at N200,000.”
However, NIS also disclosed that passport application fees for Nigerians in the diaspora remain unchanged.
It stated that applicants abroad will continue to pay $150 for the 32-page with five-year validity passport and $230 for the 64-page with 10-year validity.
“Meanwhile, Nigerian Passport Application fees made by Nigerians in diaspora remain unchanged at $150 for 32-page with 5-year validity and $230 for 64-page with 10-year validity.”
The Service reiterates its commitment to balancing quality service delivery with the need to ensure Passport services are accessible to all Nigerians.
