The journey for a sweet coffee experience took Jos Events to a beautiful village called Laminga in Jos East, where cultivation, harvesting, processing, roasting and marketing of coffee are creating opportunities and adding value to coffee production in Plateau State
From the careful planting of coffee seedlings to harvesting, processing, roasting and marketing, Lingzhi Global Coffee is taking a comprehensive approach to developing the coffee value chain in Plateau State.
Located in Laminga, Jos East Local Government Area, the company’s coffee farm is part of a growing agricultural initiative aimed at producing quality coffee while creating economic opportunities for people involved at different stages of production.
The operation brings together farmers, harvesters, processors, roasters, marketers and other workers, demonstrating how agricultural production can create employment far beyond the farm itself.
Responding from our questions due to our inquisitiveness to learn during an interview with Saminu Musa Santana at the Lingzhi Global Coffee farm in Laminga, the Farm Manager, explained that the farm currently covers approximately four hectares and is focused on cultivating healthy coffee plants and producing quality coffee.
Where the Journey Begins: The Coffee Farm
According to Mr Santana, producing quality coffee begins long before the beans reach the roasting stage.
The process starts with the careful cultivation and nurturing of coffee seedlings. Soil management is an important part of the operation, with the farm applying organic manure and appropriate agricultural inputs to provide the plants with the nutrients required for healthy growth.
The coffee plants are then carefully maintained throughout their growth cycle until they mature and begin producing cherries.
For Santana, every stage of production matters because the quality of the final coffee is influenced by what happens from the beginning of the cultivation process.
From Coffee Cherries to Coffee Beans
Once the coffee cherries mature, the farm moves into the harvesting stage.
The ripe cherries are carefully collected before undergoing a series of processing activities designed to prepare the coffee beans for the next stage of production.
The process includes harvesting, processing, washing, preparation and drying of the beans.
After drying and preparation, the beans are taken through the roasting process, where they develop the characteristics associated with roasted coffee.
The roasted beans are subsequently processed into coffee suitable for consumption.
This transformation from a crop grown on the farm into a finished consumer product highlights the importance of value addition in agriculture.
Rather than limiting agricultural activity to the production and sale of raw materials, Lingzhi Global Coffee is building a chain that extends from cultivation through to processing and marketing.
Creating Jobs Beyond the Farm
One of the significant opportunities presented by the coffee value chain is employment.
Coffee production requires people at virtually every stage—from nursery management and farming to harvesting, transportation, processing, roasting, packaging, marketing and distribution.
As the industry expands, each of these stages has the potential to support livelihoods.
For communities around Laminga and other coffee-growing areas in Plateau State, the development of the coffee industry could therefore provide opportunities for farmers and young people interested in agriculture, processing, agribusiness and related services.
Santana acknowledged that coffee production is not without its challenges.
According to him, farmers and operators in the sector continue to deal with challenges relating to farming, labour and the broader production process.
However, he believes sustained investment in coffee cultivation and processing can unlock greater opportunities for local communities.
Quality and Sustainability at the Centre
Beyond production, quality and responsible agricultural practices remain important aspects of the operation.
Santana said the farm’s operations follow the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) compliance requirements, particularly in relation to responsible and traceable coffee production.
The European Union Deforestation Regulation is designed to ensure that certain commodities entering the EU market are not associated with recent deforestation or forest degradation.
For coffee producers and exporters seeking access to the European market, meeting relevant traceability and sustainability requirements is increasingly important.
At Lingzhi Global Coffee, adherence to such standards is presented as part of the company’s effort to work with farmers and other stakeholders while maintaining quality and sustainability throughout the production chain.
Positioning Plateau as a Coffee-Producing Destination
Plateau State is widely recognised for its agricultural potential, favourable climate in several areas and diverse farming activities.
The development of coffee production adds another dimension to the state’s agricultural economy.
The Lingzhi Global Coffee farm in Laminga demonstrates how a locally developed agricultural value chain can extend beyond cultivation into processing, roasting and marketing.
With every stage creating demand for labour, skills, services and investment, coffee has the potential to become more than just an agricultural commodity—it can become an important economic activity for communities and businesses across the state.
The opportunity also extends to farmers.
As demand for quality coffee grows, more farmers could potentially participate in the supply chain, while processors and other agribusiness operators can develop businesses around the crop.
Building From Farm to Cup
The story of Lingzhi Global Coffee is ultimately about value addition.
Instead of simply growing coffee and selling it as a raw agricultural product, the company is involved in a broader process that seeks to take coffee from the farm through harvesting, processing, drying, roasting and ultimately to the consumer.
That approach creates opportunities at multiple points in the value chain and demonstrates the economic potential of developing agricultural products locally.
For Plateau State, the continued investment in coffee cultivation, processing and quality standards could help strengthen the state’s position within Nigeria’s growing agricultural and agribusiness landscape.
From a small coffee seedling in the soil of Laminga to a roasted product ready for the consumer’s cup, every stage represents an opportunity—for farmers, workers, entrepreneurs, processors and the wider economy.
Lingzhi Global Coffee and the Future
As Lingzhi Global Coffee continues to develop its farm and wider coffee value chain, its operations in Laminga offer an example of how agricultural investment can connect farming, employment, processing, manufacturing and commerce.
With greater investment in infrastructure, farmer support, technical expertise, processing capacity and access to markets, Plateau State has the potential to build a stronger coffee ecosystem.
The journey may begin with a seedling, but the ultimate goal is much bigger: to build a sustainable coffee value chain that creates jobs, adds value locally and puts Plateau-grown coffee on a wider market.
Rangers International Technical Adviser Fidelis Ilechukwu has praised his players’ resilience and fighting spirit after the Flying Antelopes battled back to secure a dramatic 2-2 away draw against Barau FC in Kano during Matchday 8 of the EuroMatch Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).
The experienced tactician described the encounter as an important lesson in determination, insisting that his players demonstrated the character required to compete under difficult circumstances.
Rangers appeared destined for defeat after surrendering their first-half advantage, but a stoppage-time equaliser ensured the Enugu-based club returned home with a valuable point.
Speaking during his post-match assessment, Ilechukwu expressed satisfaction with his team’s refusal to surrender despite the challenges encountered during the game, Sports247 gathered.
“It’s a great game. Today teaches us that we don’t have to give up. When we were a goal down, we rallied together and got a point away from home,” Ilechukwu said.
Rangers took the lead in the 38th minute through Ifeanyi Okechukwu, putting the visitors in a promising position heading into the interval.
However, Barau FC responded strongly after the restart, with Joseph Atule converting a penalty in the 56th minute to restore parity.
The hosts completed their turnaround in the 68th minute when Aliyu Sugau converted another spot-kick, putting Rangers under pressure as the contest approached its closing stages.
With time running out, Rangers continued searching for an equaliser, and their persistence eventually paid off.
Chidiebere Nwobodo emerged as the visitors’ hero, scoring in the third minute of stoppage time to rescue a point and deny Barau FC a home victory.
Ilechukwu Reacts to Controversial Penalty Decisions
The two penalties awarded to Barau FC became a major talking point following the encounter.
However, Ilechukwu declined to directly criticise the officiating, acknowledging that the referee had the authority to make decisions during the match.
“I’m not the referee. It’s not my duty, but the referee has the final say on the penalties awarded to the home team,” he explained.
His response reflected a measured approach to the decisions, with the Rangers boss choosing instead to focus on his players’ determination to recover from a difficult situation
Beyond the result, Ilechukwu revealed that Rangers’ continental commitments and the absence of several important players had affected his team’s preparations.
According to the technical adviser, injuries and fatigue prevented some key members of the squad from travelling for the encounter.
“We have to face continental games. Some of our top players couldn’t be here because of injuries and fatigue, but the players available tried their best to secure an away draw,” he said.
The demanding schedule has placed additional pressure on the Rangers squad, making rotation and player recovery important considerations as the season progresses. Nevertheless, Ilechukwu was encouraged by the commitment displayed by those who featured against Barau FC.
Although Rangers were unable to secure maximum points, the dramatic nature of their comeback provided encouragement for the technical crew.
Recovering from a 2-1 deficit to claim a draw in stoppage time demonstrated the determination Ilechukwu wants his players to maintain throughout the campaign.
For Barau FC, the result represented a missed opportunity to secure all three points after overturning Rangers’ early advantage.
For the Flying Antelopes, however, the encounter reinforced the importance of persistence, particularly when facing difficult away assignments.
Ilechukwu’s message was unmistakable: regardless of injuries, fixture congestion or controversial decisions, Rangers must continue fighting until the final whistle.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disowned a fake online publication claiming to be a special announcement on governorship candidates in six states.
Politics Nigeria reports that the commission identified the affected states as Zamfara, Gombe, Delta, Plateau, Yobe and Kano.
It urged members of the public to disregard the publication and rely on its verified communication channels for electoral information.
INEC said the publication did not originate from the commission and described it as fraudulent.
“The Commission wishes to categorically inform the general public that the publication is FAKE and did not originate from INEC,” the statement partly read.
“INEC therefore urges members of the public to disregard the fraudulent publication and refrain from sharing it.”
The commission’s warning comes amid concerns over the omission of several candidates from its final list of governorship candidates for the 2027 elections.
In Kano State, the Kwankwassiyya Movement has vowed to engage INEC over the omission of Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) deputy governorship candidate, and his principal, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, from the final list.
Habibu Mohammed, spokesperson for the movement, said the omissions came as a shock, insisting that the candidates had met the requirements for registration.
Speaking on Arise Television, Mohammed said the movement would explore the legal provisions available to candidates whose names were omitted from the commission’s list.
“It came as a shock because there had been no issue with INEC. Kwankwas, a former deputy governor, is registered with the NDC and met the stipulated deadline,” he said.
He added that electoral provisions allow affected candidates 14 days to seek redress over omissions from the list.
“We will explore that opportunity and engage with INEC,” Mohammed said.
The spokesperson maintained that the movement was unaware of any court judgment or order that could have justified the omission.
He expressed confidence that the matter would be resolved through engagement with the commission and the available legal procedures.
The NDC has also described the omission as an error and said it is seeking a correction.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has also begun engaging INEC over the omission of its governorship candidates in Ogun and Gombe states.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, saying the party was working towards an amicable resolution in line with the law and established electoral guidelines.
Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
He assured affected candidates, members and supporters that the party was treating the matter seriously and would communicate further developments when necessary.
The PDP also urged those affected to remain calm and exercise patience while discussions with the commission continued.
This was just as the party warned against actions or statements that could undermine the ongoing engagements with INEC, stressing its commitment to addressing the concerns through lawful means.
INEC released its final list of candidates for the February 6, 2027 governorship elections on Saturday.
The list, signed by the commission’s Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, and published on its website, contained 13 candidates in Ogun State and 16 in Gombe State, with no PDP candidate listed in either state.
Among those omitted were Ladi Adebutu, the PDP candidate in Ogun State, and Isa Ali Pantami, the party’s candidate in Gombe State.