The Presidency said President Bola Tinubu met victims of the Plateau State killings at a hall adjoining the Yakubu Gowon Airport rather than driving into Jos township, citing flight restrictions and logistical constraints as the reasons for the arrangement.
In a statement by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Friday, the Presidency said the runway at the airport does not support night flights due to the absence of navigational aids, making it impossible for Tinubu to visit Angwan Rukuba, drive back to the airport, and depart before dusk.
“Upon arrival in Jos, the visit encountered some 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. The constraints made it unfeasible to drive into town, meet victims for on-the-spot assessment, and return to the airport before dusk.
“Consequently, state and federal officials decided to bring representatives of the affected community to a hall adjoining the airport so the president could meet with them promptly while adhering to flight restrictions,” the statement read.
The visit came days after gunmen attacked the Angwan Rukuba district of Jos North Local Government Area on Palm Sunday, killing at least 28 people in one of the deadliest outbreaks of violence in the state in recent years.
The Presidency also explained the delay in Tinubu’s departure for Jos, saying his itinerary for Thursday had included receiving Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno at the Presidential Villa for a bilateral meeting on security cooperation.
The meeting, which centered on strengthening collaboration between Nigeria and Chad, ran longer than expected, pushing back his scheduled departure.
According to the statement, Tinubu had initially planned to travel to Iperu, Ogun State, on Thursday, but suspended the trip after Mutfwang briefed him on the security situation in Plateau.
“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 read.
Despite the airport setting, the presidency stated that the visit was successful, with Tinubu comforting victims, listening to community leaders, and engaging important stakeholders in efforts to break the state’s decades-long cycle of violence.
The minister of defense, the Chief of Army Staff, and the inspector-general of police were among those present in the hall, having already visited Angwan Rukuba in preparation for the President’s arrival.
“President Tinubu’s visit to Jos was not merely symbolic. It was a strategic, high-level engagement aimed at bringing all stakeholders together to address the root causes of conflict and insecurity in the state,” Onanuga said.
