The annual Ngas Festival of Arts and Culture, known as Pusdung, has been postponed following renewed insecurity in Plateau State.

Nde Jika Golit, Ngolong Ngas (traditional ruler of Ngas) of Ngas and custodian of Ngas culture, announced the decision in a statement signed by Wukaska Gowon, his chief media officer and obtained by BusinessDay on Thursday in Jos said the 2026 edition of the festival was earlier scheduled to hold on Saturday, April 25, before it was put on hold.

The Ngas people, who are kinsmen of former Head of State Yakubu Gowon, have endured violent attacks and unrest for over a decade.

Plateau State has witnessed persistent killings and communal clashes, with Ngas communities among those significantly affected by the crisis.

The monarch said the decision to postpone the festival was taken in view of the deteriorating security situation across the state and the country.

“This decision has become imperative in view of the prevailing security challenges in Plateau State and across the nation,” the statement said.

“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,” it added.

BusinessDay reports that Pusdung is a major annual cultural event that attracts indigenes, visitors and cultural enthusiasts, serving as a platform to promote unity and preserve the rich heritage of the Ngas people.

Nathaniel E. Gbaoron is the Plateau State correspondent for BusinessDay and a seasoned journalist with a decade of experience covering sub-national affairs across Taraba, Adamawa, Nasarawa, Benue, Plateau, and other states. He holds both National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) in Mass Communication from Fidel Polytechnic, Gboko. Over the years, he has participated in numerous media trainings and workshops spanning various areas of reporting, strengthening his expertise in economic and political reporting, community-level governance, development stories, and conflict-sensitive journalism. He is a member of Correspondent Chapel in Plateau state, a member of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), he is also a Rotarian and a member of Plateau Club 1921.

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