Dare Babalola
The Presidency has provided a detailed explanation for why President Bola Ahmed Tinubu did not leave the airport during his recent visit to Jos, Plateau State, attributing the development to a combination of tight scheduling and logistical limitations.
The President had travelled to Jos following deadly attacks in Angwa Rukuba, located in Jos North Local Government Area, where several residents were killed by gunmen. During the visit, victims and their families were brought to meet him at the airport, where he offered condolences and assurances.
“You have no light at the airport, and I have to fly back within the next 10 minutes. To the victims, there’s nothing I can give you, whether it’s money in millions, but console you and promise you that this experience will not repeat itself,” the President told the grieving families.
His decision to remain at the airport, however, drew widespread criticism, with some opposition figures accusing him of failing to show adequate empathy by not visiting the affected community directly. Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, through his aide, described the visit as reducing a tragedy to a “choreographed spectacle” driven more by optics than compassion.
Responding to the backlash, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the circumstances surrounding the trip made it impractical for the President to leave the airport.
According to him, the President’s original itinerary for Thursday included hosting Chadian leader Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, followed by a scheduled trip to Iperu in Ogun State. However, after receiving a security briefing from Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, the President cancelled the Ogun visit and arranged an urgent trip to Jos.
Despite the change in plans, Onanuga said the high-level bilateral meeting with the Chadian President—focused on strengthening security cooperation—could not be rescheduled and lasted longer than anticipated, delaying Tinubu’s departure for Jos.
He further explained that upon arrival, operational constraints made it impossible for the President to proceed into the city. “The road distance from the airport to Jos township is approximately 40 minutes, while the runway does not support night flights due to the absence of navigational aids,” he said. “This made it unfeasible to drive into town, assess the situation on ground, and return to the airport before dusk.”
As a result, authorities arranged for representatives of the affected communities to meet the President at a hall near the airport, ensuring he could engage with them within the available time frame.
Onanuga noted that top security officials, including the Chief of Army Staff and the Inspector-General of Police, had earlier visited the scene of the attack in Rukuba and were present at the meeting. He added that a high-level team had also been deployed ahead of the President’s arrival to carry out preliminary security and community engagement efforts.
Beyond offering condolences, the Presidency said the visit was aimed at addressing the underlying causes of recurring violence in Plateau State. Tinubu, according to Onanuga, held discussions with community leaders, listened to their concerns, and assured them of the Federal Government’s commitment to restoring peace and ensuring justice.
Among the measures announced by the President was the planned deployment of 5,000 AI-enabled surveillance cameras across Jos to improve monitoring and aid the identification and arrest of perpetrators.
He also invited community leaders to Abuja for further dialogue on lasting solutions to the crisis.
The Presidency maintained that, despite criticisms, the visit achieved its primary objectives. It described the engagement as “solemn and reassuring,” adding that the President emphasized the need for inclusive, community-driven approaches to building sustainable peace in the state.
