The Presidency has clarified why Bola Tinubu addressed victims of the recent Plateau attacks at the Jos airport rather than visiting affected communities directly.
In a statement issued Friday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, it said the decision was due to logistical and scheduling constraints.
According to the statement, the President’s Thursday itinerary included hosting Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno at the Presidential Villa before heading to Iperu in Ogun State.
However, after being briefed by Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, Tinubu suspended the Ogun trip and arranged an emergency visit to Jos.
The Presidency explained that the bilateral meeting with the Chadian leader, focused on strengthening security cooperation, lasted longer than expected, delaying the President’s departure for Plateau.
It further noted that upon arrival in Jos, additional logistical challenges emerged, including the airport’s inability to support night operations due to lack of navigational aids.
“President Tinubu’s itinerary for Thursday included two main engagements: receiving the Chadian President, Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, and proceeding to Iperu, Ogun State. After Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s briefing, President Tinubu suspended the trip to Ogun. Overnight, the Presidential Villa made arrangements for the visit to Jos, with presidential assets quickly deployed. However, the President could not postpone the scheduled visit by the Chadian leader.
“The President of Chad was at the Presidential Villa for a very important bilateral meeting focused on strengthening security collaboration between the two countries. The meeting ran longer than expected, affecting President Tinubu’s scheduled departure for Jos,” the statement said.
Onanuga added that officials then arranged for representatives of the affected communities to meet the President at a hall near the airport.
The Presidency also disclosed that top security chiefs — including the Minister of Defence, Chief of Army Staff, and Inspector General of Police — had earlier visited Rukuba, identified as the epicentre of the violence.
It said Tinubu used the engagement to sympathise with victims, meet stakeholders, and discuss solutions to curb recurring attacks in the state.
The President further reassured residents of the Federal Government’s commitment to justice and lasting peace, while promising the deployment of 5,000 AI-enabled cameras to strengthen security and help identify perpetrators.