The Presidency has explained why President Bola Ahmed Tinubu addressed victims of the recent Plateau attacks at the Yakubu Gowon Airport in Jos rather than visiting the affected community directly, saying the decision was informed by logistical and operational constraints surrounding his condolence visit to the state.
A statement issued on Friday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, stated that the President’s visit to Jos followed an urgent adjustment to his schedule after he was briefed by Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang on the gravity of the attack.
Mr. Onanuga clarified that President Tinubu had initially been scheduled to receive Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno in Abuja and proceed to Iperu, Ogun State, but he suspended the Ogun trip to prioritise the visit to Plateau.
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“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 statement further explained that upon arrival in Jos, time and aviation limitations made it impracticable for the President to travel from the airport to the city centre, meet victims in Angwan Rukuba and return to the airport before dusk, as the runway does not support night operations due to the absence of navigational aids.
“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.” He stated.
The Presidential aide also made known that the state and federal authorities consequently decided to bring representatives of the affected community to a hall adjoining the airport for the President to meet them promptly, console them and listen directly to their concerns without breaching flight safety restrictions.
“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 Presidential spokesperson further stated that President Tinubu’s mission in Jos went beyond a symbolic condolence visit, describing it as a strategic engagement aimed at convening key stakeholders to address the root causes of the recurring violence that has claimed lives and destroyed property in Plateau State over the years.
The Presidency said the President interacted with victims, listened to local leaders and assured residents that the Federal Government would deliver justice, end the cycle of bloodshed and pursue lasting peace in the state.
“Beyond expressing his condolences to the victims, President Tinubu’s objective was to engage with critical stakeholders in Plateau State to end 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. 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.
“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,” Mr Onanuga added.
As part of the measures announced during the engagement, President Tinubu also promised to deploy 5,000 artificial intelligence-enabled cameras to strengthen surveillance, improve the identification of troublemakers, and support law enforcement efforts in Jos.
The Presidential aide added that the President also invited community leaders to Abuja for further discussions on a durable solution to the decades-long conflict, stressing that sustainable peace in Plateau must be built through dialogue, trust and active engagement with the people, rather than imposed from above.
“The meeting, televised live, was solemn and reassuring, boosting residents’ confidence. President Tinubu achieved the purpose of his visit, despite the naysayers’ attempts to ridicule it. He dropped an unmistakable message: sustainable peace must be built with the people, not imposed on them,” Mr Onanuga added.
