The Presidency has come out to defend why President Bola Ahmed Tinubu “addressed the victims of the Plateau attacks at the airport”.
The President’s visit “encountered some logistical challenges” upon his arrival in the Plateau State Capital, Jos, the Presidency disclosed through the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, via X.
Via a State House Press Release, signed by Onanuga on Friday 3 April, 2026, the Presidency said, the President’s itinerary for Thursday 2 April, 2026 included two main engagements – receiving Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, President of Chad; and heading to Iperu, Ogun State.
The State House Press Release reads: “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.
“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.
“Beyond expressing his condolences to the victims, President Tinubu’s objective was to engage with critical stakeholders in Plateau State on ending the recurring, decades-old conflict that has resulted in needless loss of lives and property.
“President Tinubu’s visit to Jos was not merely symbolic.
“He interacted with the victims, consoled them, and listened to them. He also listened to local leaders and assured them that the federal government would deliver justice and end the cycle of violence.
“He promised the deployment of 5000 AI-enabled cameras to monitor the city and enhance the identification and arrest of troublemakers.”
Reacting to the President’s trip to Jos, Peter Obi, former Governor of Anambra State, said, “a true leader must stand with victims'”.
He condemned President Tinubu’s inability to visit the victims in the affected communities, and said, “leadership without compassion is not leadership”.
