President assures IDPs of safe return, promises 1,000 forest guards, surveillance technology; backs Jos Airport cargo upgrade
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening security, restoring lasting peace and rebuilding communities affected by violence in Plateau State, assuring internally displaced persons (IDPs) of Federal Government support to facilitate their safe return home.
The President gave the assurance on Saturday, November 14, 2026, while addressing thousands of supporters at the All Progressives Congress (APC) North Central Presidential Campaign Rally held at the 60,000-capacity Zaria Road Stadium in Jos, Plateau State.
Tinubu, who flagged off the party’s campaign mobilisation in the North Central ahead of the 2027 general elections, commended Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang for his efforts towards restoring peace and stability in the state, stressing that unity and peaceful coexistence remained essential to development.
Reflecting on his previous visit to Plateau, the President expressed sympathy with families who lost loved ones and communities devastated by violence, assuring affected residents that the Federal Government would work with the state government to rebuild their communities and enable displaced persons to return safely.
“When I came here previously, I saw devastation and received reports of enormous suffering. Today, we are seeing the benefits of unity and harmony. We are one family created by God, despite our different languages and backgrounds. We must continue to live together, farm together and build this country together. We have to build this Plateau and this country together,” he said.
On security, Tinubu disclosed that 1,000 forest guards had been trained to strengthen grassroots security, while surveillance cameras procured by the Federal Government would enhance intelligence gathering, early warning and rapid response to security threats.
He also pledged Federal Government collaboration with Governor Mutfwang to upgrade the Jos Airport into a cargo airport, a development expected to boost agricultural exports and provide access to international markets for Plateau’s agricultural produce, particularly vegetables and potatoes.
In his remarks, Vice President Kashim Shettima described Tinubu as a courageous and transformational leader, commending his willingness to take difficult decisions in addressing Nigeria’s economic challenges.
According to him, effective leadership requires the competence to stand firm, the courage to make difficult decisions and the compassion to listen to the needs of the people.
Shettima urged the people of Plateau and the wider North Central region to support Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, emphasising the importance of political unity.
Similarly, the Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abdul’Aziz Yari Abubakar, expressed confidence in the APC’s electoral prospects in the region, citing the administration’s policies, infrastructure investments and commitment to national security.
The APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, presented party flags to the APC governorship candidates across the North Central states, including Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau, Mohammed Umar Bago of Niger, Reverend Hyacinth Alia of Benue and Senator Wadada of Nasarawa State, formally signalling the party’s mobilisation ahead of the 2027 governorship elections.
Earlier, Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang described Plateau as a historic centre of Nigeria’s democratic journey, recalling the state’s significance in the nomination of the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola in 1993 and other defining moments in the nation’s political history.
The Governor expressed appreciation to the Tinubu administration for its interventions in road infrastructure, education and healthcare, particularly through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which he said had provided over ₦11 billion in educational support to Plateau students in tertiary institutions.
He also acknowledged Federal Government approval of the Akwanga–Jos and Jos–Shendam–Ebi road projects, describing them as strategic investments capable of improving connectivity and stimulating economic activities across the state.
Highlighting his administration’s efforts to expand employment opportunities and promote technological innovation, Mutfwang disclosed that a digital employment hub was being developed to provide remote work opportunities for 2,000 young people, alongside a technology hub designed to strengthen security through improved crime detection.
The Governor, however, appealed to President Tinubu to support the resettlement of internally displaced persons and facilitate the completion of the Jos Township Stadium, which he said had remained unfinished for about four decades.
He further drew the President’s attention to the need to complete the Zaria Road Stadium to enable Plateau State attract and host international sporting competitions.
On the 2027 elections, Mutfwang declared Plateau’s readiness to support the President’s re-election, saying, “The time has come and the time is now. By the grace of God, we are going to show our gratitude come the 16th of January 2027.”
He described the President’s economic reforms as having moved Nigeria from the intensive care unit to the recovery room, expressing optimism that sustained implementation would translate into greater prosperity for Nigerians.
Goodwill messages were also delivered by President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio; Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma; Chairman of the Progressive Forum, Senator Joshua Dariye; and Senator Simon Bako Lalong, representing Plateau South Senatorial District at the National Assembly.
The speakers unanimously called on Nigerians, particularly voters in the North Central, to support Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
The rally attracted serving and former governors, members of the National Assembly, party leaders, traditional rulers, women, youths and thousands of APC supporters drawn from the six states of the North Central geopolitical zone.
In a related development, Governor Mutfwang, on behalf of President Tinubu, subsequently commissioned the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Centre in Jos.
Speaking at the commissioning, the Governor expressed confidence that the facility would expand employment opportunities, promote digital skills development, attract investment and create sustainable jobs for the growing youth population in Plateau State.
The centre is expected to strengthen the state’s participation in the digital economy while opening new opportunities for young people to access employment beyond geographical boundaries.
The developments formed part of the activities surrounding the President’s visit to Plateau State for the APC North Central campaign flag-off.
Source: Gyang Bere, PhD, Director of Press and Public Affairs to the Executive Governor of Plateau State. November 14, 2026.
