The Presidency has explained why President Bola Tinubu did not leave the airport during his recent visit to victims of the deadly Jos attack, which occurred on Palm Sunday and claimed multiple lives.
In a statement issued by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga on Friday, the Presidency cited a meeting with the President of Chad as a major reason for lesser time with the victims.
According to the statement, the President’s itinerary on the day included “two main engagements: receiving the Chadian President, Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, and proceeding to Iperu, Ogun State.” While Tinubu suspended his planned trip to Ogun after a briefing from Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, he could not reschedule the bilateral meeting with the Chadian leader, which “ran longer than expected.”
The Presidency added that the delay affected Tinubu’s departure to Jos, leading to further complications upon arrival. “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 statement said.
It noted that these constraints made it “unfeasible to drive into town, meet victims for on-the-spot assessment and return to the airport before dusk.” As a result, officials arranged for representatives of the affected communities to meet the President at a hall near the airport.
The statement stressed that Tinubu still engaged directly with victims and stakeholders, saying, “He interacted with the victims, consoled them, and listened to them,” while also assuring residents that the federal government would “deliver justice and end the cycle of violence.”
The Presidency described the visit as “not merely symbolic” but a “strategic, high-level engagement” aimed at addressing the root causes of the recurring conflict in Plateau State.
Tinubu also promised enhanced security measures, including the deployment of 5,000 AI-enabled cameras in Jos, and invited community leaders to Abuja for further dialogue on lasting peace solutions.
The explanation comes amid public criticism over the President’s brief airport-only visit following the attack.
