The Presidency has strongly defended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to remain at the airport during his visit to Jos, pushing back against widespread criticism that trailed the trip.
In a statement, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga dismissed claims that the visit lacked empathy, insisting that the President acted within unavoidable constraints while still prioritising engagement with victims of the recent attack in Angwa Rukuba.
The visit had drawn backlash from opposition figures, including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who described the airport meeting as insensitive. But the Presidency argued that such criticism ignored the realities surrounding the trip.
According to Onanuga, Tinubu’s schedule was disrupted by a crucial bilateral meeting with Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, which delayed his departure from Abuja. By the time he arrived in Jos, flight safety limitations—particularly the absence of night-landing facilities at the airport—made it impractical to travel into the city and return before dusk.
Faced with those constraints, officials opted to bring victims and community representatives to the airport, allowing the President to meet them directly without compromising safety.
The Presidency maintained that the engagement was meaningful, not symbolic. It said Tinubu listened to victims, reassured community leaders, and outlined steps to address the long-running security crisis in Plateau State, including plans to deploy thousands of AI-powered surveillance cameras.
It also stressed that the President’s visit formed part of a broader strategy to restore peace, revealing that community leaders had been invited to Abuja for further dialogue.
Insisting that the objective of the trip was achieved, the Presidency said attempts to portray the visit negatively were misplaced, emphasising that the focus remained on delivering justice and lasting security for affected communities.
Presidency Pushes Back Against Criticism of Tinubu’s Airport Visit to Jos
