His Majesty, Nde Jika Golit, the Ngolong Ngas and Custodian of Ngas Culture, hereby announces the immediate and unavoidable postponement of Pusdung 2026, which was earlier scheduled to hold on Saturday, 25th April, 2026.
This decision has become imperative in view of the prevailing security challenges in Plateau State and across the nation.
His Majesty, the Ngolong Ngas, deeply regrets this development and fervently prays for God’s protection, lasting peace, and harmonious coexistence among all the people of Ngas land and Nigeria.
To our esteemed invited guests, we sincerely thank you for your readiness and goodwill. We are confident that this season shall pass, and we look forward to celebrating with you in due course.
Signed: Wukaska Bako Gowon Chief Media Officer to the Ngolong Ngas
BY NKECHI NAECHE-ESEZOBOR—Nigeria’s aviation sector may experience operational setbacks after the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, (NCAA), moved to tighten enforcement on airlines owing regulatory levies, targeting 11 local carriers in a fresh compliance crackdown.
In a directive issued on May 22, 2026, the aviation regulator instructed its departments nationwide to halt official support and approvals for the affected operators until outstanding financial obligations are resolved or structured repayment arrangements are reached.
The action stems from unpaid remittances linked to the mandatory five per cent Ticket Sales Charge and Cargo Sales Charge, deductions airlines collect on behalf of the NCAA to finance aviation safety monitoring, workforce development and economic supervision across the industry.
According to the internal communication signed by the Director of Finance and Accounts, Olufemi Odukoya, no agency unit is permitted to provide services to any listed airline without prior financial authorisation from the finance department. The memo was also copied to the Director-General of Civil Aviation and senior management officials.
Among the carriers affected are Air Peace, Ibom Air, Arik Air, United Nigeria Airlines, Umza Air, NG Eagle, Max Air, Caverton Helicopters, Overland Airways, Rano Air and ValueJet.
Industry stakeholders say the enforcement measure could disrupt regulatory processing for the airlines involved, potentially affecting flight operations, approvals and other administrative activities if the debt issues remain unresolved.
Nigeria’s digital identity verification system is set for broader adoption across public services following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive mandating the use of the National Identification Number (NIN) across government digital platforms, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has said.
The Commission says the Presidential Directive, issued on April 5, 2024, marks a major policy shift that places the NIN at the centre of identity verification, biometric authentication and data capture across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), a move expected to strengthen trust in digital transactions and improve access to services nationwide.
Speaking at a digital conference themed “Building Africa’s Digital Foundations Together” in Abuja, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, NIMC Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, said the Commission is intensifying efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s digital identity architecture as part of the country’s wider Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) agenda.
Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, DG/CEO, The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC). Image credit: NIMC.
For Nigerians, the expanded NIN mandate means identity verification is expected to become increasingly standardised when accessing government services and a growing range of digital platforms, while businesses and institutions will be able to rely on stronger identity authentication infrastructure.
NIN as enabler for digital authentication of identity in Nigeria
“Central to the DPI transformation is the National Identification Number (NIN), which has become a critical enabler for digital authentication, identity verification, and access to government and private sector services,” Coker-Odusote said.
According to NIMC, the directive requires MDAs to integrate and effectively use the NIN in policies and systems tied to data capture, identity verification and biometric authentication across digital services.
“In line with the Presidential Directive issued on April 5, 2024, Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) have been mandated to ensure the effective use of the NIN in driving policies related to data capture, identity verification, and biometric authentication across all digital services. NIMC has put in place structures to ensure effective implementation,” she said.
The Commission says the directive is expected to create a more unified identity verification framework across government, reducing duplication of identity records, improving service efficiency and enabling agencies to authenticate citizens through a common trusted system.
For Nigerians, the expanded NIN mandate means identity verification is expected to become increasingly standardised when accessing government services and a growing range of digital platforms, while businesses and institutions will be able to rely on stronger identity authentication infrastructure.
NIMC also said it is reinforcing trust in the digital identity ecosystem through the rollout of the National Public Key Infrastructure (nPKI), a security framework designed to support safer electronic transactions and digital communications while protecting citizens’ personal data.
The Commission says the broader reforms align with Nigeria’s Digital Public Infrastructure strategy, which aims to strengthen governance, improve national security and expand access to efficient public services through interoperable digital systems.
Coker-Odusote said NIMC remains committed to leveraging innovation and secure digital identity systems to support national development, while calling for deeper collaboration between public and private sector stakeholders.
According to her, sustained partnership will be critical to ensuring that Nigeria’s digital identity infrastructure delivers improved transparency, accountability and service delivery outcomes as the Federal Government accelerates digital transformation initiatives nationwide.
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