Presidency Explains Tinubu’s Airport-Only Visit to Jos

The Presidency has clarified why President Bola Tinubu did not leave the airport during his recent visit to Jos, Plateau State, attributing the decision to tight scheduling and logistical constraints.

The explanation followed public criticism after the President met victims of the Angwan Rukuba attack at the airport rather than visiting the affected community. During the meeting, Tinubu told the victims, “You have no light at the airport, and I have to fly back within the next 10 minutes… there’s nothing I can give you… but console you and promise you that this experience will not repeat itself.”

In a statement, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the President had initially planned other engagements, including receiving Chadian leader Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, before altering his schedule to accommodate the urgent visit to Plateau following a briefing by Governor Caleb Mutfwang.

Onanuga explained that the bilateral meeting with the Chadian President overran, delaying Tinubu’s departure for Jos. Upon arrival, further constraints emerged, including the airport’s inability to support night operations and the travel time required to reach the affected areas.

“The runway does not support night flights due to the absence of navigational aids. The constraints made it unfeasible to drive into town, meet victims… and return to the airport before dusk,” the statement noted.

As a result, officials arranged for representatives of the affected community to meet the President at a hall adjoining the airport. Senior security officials, including the Inspector General of Police and the Chief of Army Staff, had earlier visited the epicentre of the violence.

The Presidency stressed that the visit was not merely symbolic but aimed at engaging stakeholders on resolving the protracted conflict in Plateau State.

“He interacted with the victims, consoled them, and listened to them… and assured them that the federal government would deliver justice and end the cycle of violence,” Onanuga said, adding that Tinubu also proposed deploying 5,000 AI-enabled surveillance cameras to improve security.

He further disclosed that community leaders had been invited to Abuja for follow-up discussions on achieving lasting peace, insisting that “sustainable peace must be built with the people, not imposed on them.”

We do everything possible to supply quality news and information to all our valuable readers day in, day out and we are committed to keep doing this. Your kind donation will help our continuous research efforts.