Presidency Clarifies Logistics of President Tinubu’s Jos Airport Meeting and Outlines AI Surveillance Strategy for Plateau State

The Presidency explains how night flight limits at Jos airport led to an airport meeting with Plateau victims, where Tinubu promised 5,000 AI cameras.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 3, 2026, 10:28 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from LEADERSHIP News

Addressing Logistical and Technical Constraints

The Presidency has issued a formal explanation regarding President Bola Tinubu’s recent visit to Plateau State, where he met with victims of communal attacks at the Jos airport instead of the affected townships. According to a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, the decision was driven by a combination of tight scheduling and infrastructure limitations. The President’s original itinerary included receiving the Chadian President, Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, before traveling to Ogun State. However, a security briefing from Governor Caleb Mutfwang prompted an immediate pivot to Jos. A bilateral meeting with the Chadian leader, centered on regional security, ran longer than anticipated, delaying the President’s departure for the North Central state.

Night Flight Restrictions at Jos Airfield

A primary technical factor cited by the Presidency was the lack of navigational aids at the Jos airport, which prevents safe takeoff and landing after dusk. Although the drive from the airport to Jos township is approximately 40 minutes, the late arrival of the presidential party made a round trip to the interior of the state unfeasible. To ensure the President could engage with victims while adhering to mandatory flight safety windows, state and federal officials arranged for representatives of the affected communities to meet in a hall adjoining the airport. This arrangement allowed for a prompt interaction without risking a grounding of the presidential aircraft due to darkness.

Strategic Engagement Beyond Symbolism

The Presidency emphasized that the visit was a strategic high-level engagement rather than a merely symbolic gesture. Prior to the President’s arrival, a high-level team including the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Army Staff, and the Inspector General of Police had already visited Rukuba, the epicentre of the recent violence. This team conducted groundwork on community engagement to stabilize the area ahead of the President’s interaction. By bringing stakeholders together at the airport, the administration aimed to address the root causes of the decades-old conflict while demonstrating the Federal Government's presence and resolve.