Breaking: Tinubu postpones Kaduna trip, heads to Benue to address deadly crisis

President Bola Tinubu has postponed his scheduled official visit to Kaduna State and will instead travel to Benue State on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, in what the presidency described as “renewed efforts to foster peace and address the persistent conflict affecting communities in the state.”

The change in schedule was announced in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

According to the statement, the visit is aimed at giving the President a firsthand understanding of the recurring crisis in Benue, “which has claimed numerous lives and caused significant destruction.”

While in Benue, Tinubu will hold a town hall meeting and consult with a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including traditional rulers, political and religious leaders, community elders, and youth groups. “The President is expected to hold a town hall meeting with all stakeholders during the visit,” Onanuga confirmed.

To pave the way for the high-level engagement, the President has already dispatched senior officials to the state. These include “the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Inspector General of Police, heads of intelligence agencies, the National Security Adviser, and the Chairmen of the Senate and House Defence Committees,” the statement noted.

President Tinubu has repeatedly voiced concern over the violence in Benue, previously condemning the hostilities and urging communities to prioritize peace. “He extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and to all those who have suffered losses as a result of the crisis,” Onanuga stated.

Meanwhile, Tinubu’s planned visit to Kaduna State, originally scheduled for June 18 to commission several state government projects, will now take place a day later. “According to his itinerary released over the weekend, President Tinubu was scheduled to visit Kaduna State on Wednesday… However, the official visit will now occur on Thursday, June 19, 2025,” the release added.