President Bola Tinubu’s recent visit to Jos, Plateau State, following devastating attacks, has sparked a debate regarding the circumstances of his engagement with victims.
While the Presidency defended the decision to meet affected community representatives at the airport, critics have labeled the interaction as superficial.
According to a Statehouse Press Release, President Tinubu’s itinerary on the day of the visit was tightly scheduled, including a crucial bilateral meeting with Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno to strengthen security collaboration.
This meeting ran longer than anticipated, delaying his departure for Jos. Upon arrival, logistical challenges at the Yakubu Gowon Airport in Haipang, Barkin Ladi LGA, further complicated matters.
The.runway’s lack of navigational aids prevented night flights, making it unfeasible to drive the 40-minute distance to Jos township, meet victims for an on-the-spot assessment, and
return to the airport before dusk.
Consequently, state and federal officials arranged for representatives of the affected community to meet the President in a hall adjoining the
airport. 
A high-level team, including the Minister of Defence, Chief of Army Staff, and the
Inspector General of Police, had already visited Rukuba, the conflict’s epicenter, to conduct groundwork before the President’s arrival.
President Tinubu’s primary objectives for the visit extended beyond expressing
condolences. He aimed to engage with critical stakeholders in Plateau State to address the recurring, the decades-old conflict that has led to significant loss of life and property.
The President interacted with victims, offered solace, and listened to their concerns and those of local leaders while assured them of the federal govt’s commitment to delivering justice.
Also to ending the cycle of violence, he promised the deployment of 5000 AI- enabled cameras to monitor the city and enhance the identification and arrest of troublemakers.
Furthermore, he invited community leaders to Abuja for subsequent discussions on finding.a lasting solution to the violence.
The televised meeting was described as solemn and reassuring, boosting residents’ confidence, and conveying an unmistakable message: sustainable peace must be built with the people, not imposed on them.
However, a contrasting perspective emerged, criticizing the President’s approach. One account questioned the sincerity of traveling to empathize with the people when the meeting was held at the airport, a considerable distance from Jos town (36.3km).
The President’s acknowledgment during the event that the airport lacked night operation facilities and that he had only
barely 10 minutes before takeoff was highlighted as condescending and sad, implying a lack of genuine empathy for the victims.
