The Presidency has defended Bola Tinubu following criticism over his interaction with victims of the recent attack in Plateau State during his visit to Jos airport.
President Tinubu had on Thursday visited the North-Central state, days after at least 28 people were killed in an attack in Jos North Local Government Area.
The visit was intended to allow the President engage with victims and reassure residents on measures to prevent future attacks. However, his interaction, particularly the decision to meet victims at the airport, drew mixed reactions, especially on social media.
In a statement issued on Friday, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga attributed the development to scheduling and logistical constraints.
According to him, a high-level meeting with Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, President of Chad, delayed Tinubu’s departure from Abuja.
“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,” Onanuga said.
He further explained that operational limitations at the Jos airport also influenced the decision. The runway, he noted, does not support night flights due to the absence of navigational aids, making it impractical for the President to travel into the city and return before dusk.
“While the road distance from the airport to Jos township is approximately 40 minutes, the constraints made it unfeasible to drive into town, meet victims, and return to the airport before nightfall,” he stated.
As a result, officials arranged for representatives of the affected communities to meet the President at a hall near the airport.
Onanuga also disclosed that Tinubu had initially planned to travel to Iperu in Ogun State but cancelled the trip after receiving a security briefing from Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang.
“Following the governor’s briefing, the President suspended his Ogun trip and directed immediate arrangements for a visit to Jos. However, the earlier scheduled meeting with the Chadian leader could not be postponed,” he added.
During the visit, President Tinubu expressed condolences to victims, including a woman seen in a viral video mourning her son killed in the attack.
“I know your pain; I saw how you held your son and felt the agony in your heart. Only God can give you comfort. No amount of money can compensate for your loss, but we will do our best to support you,” he said.
The President also announced plans to deploy at least 5,000 surveillance cameras across the state to strengthen security.
