Why Tinubu met Plateau victims at Jos Airport — Presidency

The Presidency says logistical and aviation constraints at Jos Airport forced President Bola Tinubu to meet victims of the Plateau attacks at the airport instead of visiting the affected communities.

According to a statement Friday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the airport does not have the navigational aids required to support night landings, making it unsafe for presidential flight operations beyond daylight hours.

He added, “The constraints made it unfeasible for the President to drive into town, meet victims for on-the-spot assessment, and return to the airport before dusk.”

To ensure the President could still meet victims promptly, Onanuga said officials “decided to bring representatives of the affected community to a hall adjoining the airport so the President could meet with them while adhering to flight restrictions.”

The statement noted that security chiefs, including the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Army Staff, and the Inspector-General of Police, had already visited the epicentre of the conflict in Rukuba to prepare for the meeting.

According to the Presidency, “Despite the logistical challenges, the President was able to interact directly with victims, express his condolences, and engage community leaders on steps to end the recurring violence in Plateau State.”