Why Tinubu Consoled Plateau Victims At Airport – Presidency
The Presidency has defended President Bola Tinubu’s decision to meet victims of the Plateau killings at the Jos airport, citing flight limits and logistics.
Officials said the airport runway cannot handle night operations, making it difficult to travel into town and return safely. The explanation was given in a statement released on Friday.
The visit followed a deadly attack in Angwan Rukuba where many lives were lost. According to the Presidency, the distance to Jos town and lack of night landing support meant the President could not meet victims at the scene.
Instead, community representatives were brought to a hall near the airport for the meeting.
“Upon arrival in Jos, the visit encountered some logistical challenges.
While the road distance from the airport to Jos township is approximately 40 minutes, the runway does not support night flights due to the absence of navigational aids.
The constraints made it unfeasible to drive into town, meet victims for on-the-spot assessment and return to the airport before dusk.
The Presidency added that Tinubu’s earlier meeting with the Chadian leader delayed his departure, affecting the schedule.
It said the visit still allowed him to engage victims, security chiefs, and community leaders. Critics, however, described the approach as insensitive and said it failed to reach those directly affected.
