The Presidency has clarified why President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remained at the airport during his recent visit to Jos, Plateau State, citing scheduling constraints and logistical challenges.
The President met with families of those killed in the Angwa Rukuba attack in Jos North Local Government Area on Sunday. Addressing the victims, he said: “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 hall where the meeting took place was filled with political supporters, traditional rulers, security personnel, and other officials. Tinubu’s stay at the airport triggered widespread outrage, with critics accusing him of being insensitive to the grieving families. Opposition leader and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, through his aide, described the event as reducing a human tragedy to a “choreographed spectacle,” prioritising optics over empathy and dignity.
In response, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, explained that Tinubu’s Thursday itinerary initially included receiving Chadian leader Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno at the Presidential Villa, before proceeding to Iperu in Ogun State. Following a security briefing from Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, the Ogun trip was suspended, and an urgent visit to Jos was arranged overnight.
However, the high-level bilateral meeting with the Chadian President, which focused on strengthening security cooperation, could not be rescheduled. The meeting lasted longer than anticipated, delaying Tinubu’s departure for Jos.
“Upon arrival in Jos, the visit encountered logistical challenges. While the road distance from the airport to Jos township is approximately 40 minutes, the runway does not support night flights due to the absence of navigational aids. This made it unfeasible to drive into town, meet victims for an on-the-spot assessment, and return to the airport before dusk,” Onanuga said.
To manage the situation, representatives of the affected community were brought to a hall adjoining the airport so the President could meet them promptly while adhering to flight restrictions. Officials present included the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Army Staff, and the Inspector General of Police, all of whom had visited Rukuba. A high-level team, including the Senior Special Assistant on Community Engagement, conducted groundwork on security and community engagement prior to the President’s arrival.
Onanuga added that Tinubu’s visit was not merely symbolic, but “a strategic, high-level engagement aimed at bringing all stakeholders together to address the root causes of conflict and insecurity in the state.”
During the meeting, Tinubu interacted with victims, consoled them, and listened to local leaders. He assured that the federal government would deliver justice, end the cycle of violence, and deploy 5,000 AI-enabled cameras to monitor the city and identify troublemakers. He also invited community leaders to Abuja for further discussions on finding lasting solutions.
“The meeting, televised live, was solemn and reassuring, boosting residents’ confidence. President Tinubu achieved the purpose of his visit, sending a clear message that sustainable peace must be built with the people, not imposed on them,” Onanuga concluded.
