“Forgive me for stopping at the airport” — Tinubu apologises in Jos, pledges to rebuild Plateau communities hit by insurgency

Photo: President Bola Tinubu addresses the APC North-Central presidential campaign rally in Jos, Plateau State, 14 Nov 2026 · Photo: Leadership (lead image of its 14 Nov rally report)

Seven months after his Plateau visit stopped at the airport, the President stood in Jos and said sorry — and promised to rebuild the communities and bring displaced families home.

President Bola Tinubu apologised to Plateau State residents on Saturday, 14 November, for his previous visit to the state in April, which was limited to the airport, and pledged federal support to rebuild communities affected by insurgency and facilitate the return of displaced residents to their ancestral homes.

Speaking at the APC North-Central presidential campaign rally at Zaria Road Stadium, Jos — which began at 10:00 WAT and drew Vice President Kashim Shettima, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda — he said: “When I last visited the other time, I was limited to the airport. Forgive me if you didn't see me in the hinterland, but I saw the devastation. I got the report from the governor. I saw horror in the faces of our people.”

“We will rebuild your communities, and we will bring you back to your community. I have directed all the security agencies to take decisive action and sustain peace and stability on the Plateau,” he said. The rebuild is a pledge — no timeline or budget was given, and it must not be presented as under way.

Governor Caleb Mutfwang, speaking at the rally, pledged Plateau's support for Tinubu's re-election, saying “Tinubu met Nigeria in intensive care unit” when he assumed office but had moved the country into recovery. That line is Mutfwang's, not Tinubu's. Tinubu also commissioned three Plateau projects during the visit — a Business Process Outsourcing Centre, the Plateau Special Activity Centre, and 50 hybrid Jet Mover buses — and APC flags were presented to North-Central governorship candidates.

The April visit followed the 29 March attack on the Angwan Rukuba community in Jos North LGA, where at least 27 people were killed; the Presidency had defended the airport-only visit on logistical grounds. The apology answers a controversy from that visit — and it comes the day after the mosque convoy incident, on the biggest campaign rally of the day.

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