The Presidency has clarified why President Bola Ahmed Tinubu met with elders and stakeholders in Plateau State at the airport in Jos, attributing the development to logistical constraints and prior high-level engagements.

Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said the President’s schedule was affected by an earlier bilateral meeting in Abuja with Mahamat Idriss Déby, the President of Chad.

According to Onanuga, the Chadian leader’s visit to the Presidential Villa, which focused on strengthening security collaboration between both countries, lasted longer than expected and delayed Tinubu’s departure to Jos.

He explained that the President had initially planned to travel to Ogun State but rescheduled his itinerary after receiving a briefing from Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang on the security situation.

“After Governor 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,” Onanuga said.

He added that despite the urgency of the visit, the President could not postpone the scheduled meeting with the Chadian leader.

On arrival in Jos, further logistical challenges emerged. The Presidency noted that although the distance from the airport to the city centre is about 40 minutes, the airport lacks night-flight navigational aids, making late operations difficult.

“These constraints made it unfeasible to drive into town, meet victims, and return to the airport before dusk,” Onanuga explained.

As a result, officials arranged for representatives of affected communities to meet the President at a hall near the airport to ensure timely engagement while complying with flight restrictions.

The President was accompanied by top security officials, including the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Army Staff, and the Inspector General of Police, who had earlier visited Rukuba, the epicentre of the violence.

Onanuga said Tinubu had deployed a high-level team ahead of his visit to carry out preliminary security and community engagement efforts aimed at stabilising the area.

He stressed that the President’s visit was not merely symbolic but part of a broader strategy to address the root causes of recurring violence in the state.

“Beyond expressing condolences, the President’s objective was to engage critical stakeholders on ending the decades-long conflict that has led to loss of lives and property,” he said.

During the meeting, Tinubu interacted with victims, listened to community leaders, and assured them of the Federal Government’s commitment to justice and lasting peace.

As part of proposed measures, the President pledged the deployment of 5,000 AI-enabled surveillance cameras to enhance security and aid in identifying perpetrators of violence.

He also invited community leaders to Abuja for further consultations aimed at finding a lasting solution to the crisis.

The Presidency said the meeting, which was broadcast live, was solemn and reassuring, adding that it helped boost public confidence despite criticism from some quarters.

“President Tinubu achieved the purpose of his visit. He delivered a clear message that sustainable peace must be built with the people, not imposed on them,” the statement added.