ValueJet, in partnership with the Plateau State Government, has announced the resumption of direct flights between Lagos and Jos, set to begin on April 2, 2025.
The airline will initially operate three weekly flights—on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays—with plans to increase the frequency to daily service in the future.
ValueJet’s Managing Director, Omololu Majekodunmi, disclosed this development in a statement issued on Sunday in Lagos, as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
He further revealed that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed with the Plateau State Government, represented by the Commissioner for Transport, Jatau Gyang, to formalize the partnership.
“In a bid to expand flight operations, ValueJet and the Plateau Government have agreed to restart direct flights from Lagos to Jos, Plateau, beginning April 2,” the NAN report read in part.
It added, “Initially, the airline will operate direct Lagos-Jos flights three times weekly — on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays — with potential expansion to daily service.”
The introduction of Lagos-Jos flights is part of ValueJet’s broader expansion plan to connect major destinations across Nigeria.
Majekodunmi explained that the partnership aims to provide safer and faster travel alternatives to the five-hour road journey between Jos and Abuja, which has long been plagued by security challenges and extended travel times.
He emphasized the importance of the service, pointing out that travelers now have the option of a 35-minute flight instead of enduring the risks associated with the road.
He also highlighted the personal experiences of the governor, who has made over 25 road trips between Jos and Abuja since assuming office, often encountering insecurity and other difficulties.
The NAN report further noted that the initiative aligns with Plateau State’s strategy to drive economic growth by attracting investment and improving mobility for residents and visitors.
Commissioner Jatau Gyang emphasized that the collaboration is a crucial step toward fostering development in the state while ensuring safer travel options for its people.
Background
ValueJet, founded in 2018, launched its inaugural flight on October 10, 2022. In February 2023, it introduced flights to Jos as part of its route expansion but later suspended operations on the route.
With the planned resumption in April 2025, ValueJet aims to strengthen its network, which currently includes Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Yola, Benin, Asaba, and Kano. The airline also provides charter services for customized travel needs.
Following the unresolved internal wrangling within the All Progressive Congress,APC, resulting from the recently concluded primaries in Kebbi State, the Senator representing Kebbi South, Garba Musa Maidoki, has defected from the ruling party to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Maidoki who chairs the Senate Committee on Legislative Compliance and serves as the Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Information and National Orientation cited unresolved internal wrangling within the APC following the just concluded primaries as the reason for his action. Madoki was among the lawmakers screened out of the primaries.
Senator Maidoki stated that his decision followed, “wide consultations with constituents” in a letter addressed to the Senate President and read during Tuesday’s plenary.
He explained that his action was triggered by protracted problems arising from the APC primaries
The Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, who presided over the plenary, urged the lawmaker to step down his defection to allow room for reconciliation as the APC in Kebbi does not have a fundamental crisis and that Maidoki’s grievances could be resolved internally.
Barau said, “I wish to intervene and plead with the distinguished senator to rescind his decision. There is no internal problem in the APC in Kebbi State. This is more of a family dispute and we can reconcile. I move that this defection be stepped down for reconciliation.”
Maidoki rejected the intervention, saying that he had already made up his mind as his exit adds to a string of defections from the APC to the ADC in recent months, with discontent over party primaries and internal disputes pushing some lawmakers toward the opposition.
The ADC has increasingly positioned itself as an alternative for politicians aggrieved by the ruling party’s internal processes ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Maidoki’s defection is likely to deepen those divisions and significantly alter the political calculation in Kebbi South.
The general-secretary of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Dr Mohammed Sanusi has disclosed that egg heads and technical buffs of the governing body are working hard towards brining an A-license coaching course back to the country.
Sports247 reports that Sanusi made the disclosure while speaking at the ongoing Confederation of African Football (CAF) B-license coaches refresher course in Abuja, which he said became imperative to upgrade the country’s tacticians.
While revealing that the coaching course is running alongside a similar training programme for referees in the country, Sanusi, who is one of the instructors, affirmed that the dual-programme will bring huge benefits for participants.
Sanusi, who spoke on behalf of NFF president, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, at the opening ceremony of the six-day course in Abuja on Monday, further disclosed that specialized paths have been introduced in building of capacity in the sector.
He specifically mentioned programmes in the areas of young talent, beach soccer and FIFA elite referees that were organized earlier this month, then disclosed that Nigeria has been admitted back into the CAF A-License Coaching Convention.
The NFF scribe described this development as a significant step for Nigerian coaches and urged them to diligently build their capacity towards the highest level possible in the game, then urged participants to show total commitment to excel.
“The technical department is now working assiduously towards resuming the CAF A-License course in Nigeria in August, for the first time in nine years. We have a total of 50 participants for the refresher course, but only 25 will be admitted.
“We will set very high standards and only the best will cross the hurdle. That does not mean we are going to close the door for others. Immediately we are done with this CAF A-course starting in August, we will apply for another one at that level.”
Sanusi also revealed that Gusau, who is also the president of West African Football Union (WAFU) zone-B, has approved a vehicle to move Video Assistant Referee (VAR) training equipment into Nigeria to upgrade match arbiters in the country.