"I Will Clear My Schedule to Visit the People of Benue on Wednesday" – President Tinubu Vows

In a decisive move to tackle the lingering crisis in Benue State, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has postponed his planned official visit to Kaduna State and will instead travel to Benue on Wednesday, June 18, 2025. The shift in the President’s itinerary was confirmed in an official statement released by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

According to the statement, President Tinubu's visit is part of his renewed and strategic efforts to promote peace and restore normalcy in Benue State, a region that has been plagued by recurrent violent conflicts, particularly between farming communities and armed groups. The President aims to directly assess the situation on ground and meet with key stakeholders to address the root causes of the violence and propose lasting solutions to insecurity in Benue.

“During his stay, President Tinubu will meet with all stakeholders—including traditional rulers, political, religious, community leaders, and youth groups—to seek lasting solutions to the hostilities,” the statement read.

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President Tinubu's Shift in Focus: Why Benue Matters

Benue State, often referred to as the “Food Basket of the Nation,” has in recent years made headlines for all the wrong reasons. Once a thriving agricultural hub, Benue has become a flashpoint of violence, with numerous lives lost, communities displaced, and farmlands destroyed.

Recurring clashes—primarily between farmers and herders, as well as attacks by suspected militia groups—have contributed to the region’s deteriorating security situation. Entire villages have been razed, families torn apart, and countless citizens forced into internally displaced persons (IDP) camps. The conflict has not only hindered food production in Nigeria but also deepened the humanitarian crisis in the Middle Belt.

Recognizing the strategic and humanitarian importance of Benue, President Tinubu has made it a national priority to intervene directly. His visit on June 18 is seen as a bold and symbolic step towards resolving the crisis and building peace among divided communities.

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Tinubu to Hold Town Hall Meeting with Stakeholders in Benue

The President’s trip to Benue is not just symbolic—it is action-oriented. According to Bayo Onanuga, the visit will include a town hall meeting involving a broad range of stakeholders. This meeting is expected to bring together traditional rulers, political office holders, religious clerics, community elders, youth groups, and civil society organizations.

“The President is expected to hold a town hall meeting with all stakeholders during the visit,” Onanuga confirmed.

The goal of the town hall is to listen directly to the people, understand the root causes of the hostilities, and collaboratively design a framework for peace. This bottom-up approach reflects President Tinubu’s commitment to participatory governance and grassroots engagement.

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Presidential Delegation Already in Benue Ahead of the Visit

Ahead of the President’s arrival, a high-powered delegation has already been dispatched to Benue State. This is to ensure the necessary groundwork is laid for effective dialogue and conflict resolution.

Those sent ahead include:

• The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF)

• The Inspector General of Police (IGP)

• Heads of Nigeria’s intelligence agencies

• The National Security Adviser (NSA)

• The Chairmen of the Senate and House Defence Committees

This team is expected to engage with local authorities, gather intelligence, and provide the President with a comprehensive briefing ahead of his town hall meeting.

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Political and Social Implications of the Visit

The decision to prioritize Benue over Kaduna is a significant one. Kaduna has its own share of security challenges, particularly in Southern Kaduna and some parts of the North-West. However, by focusing on Benue at this time, President Tinubu signals that he is deeply concerned about the humanitarian and security crises in the Middle Belt.

Political analysts believe that this move could help improve relations between the Federal Government and Middle Belt communities, many of whom have felt neglected by previous administrations. It could also boost the confidence of Benue indigenes in Tinubu’s leadership and pave the way for more collaborative development efforts in the region.

Additionally, this visit may contribute to nationwide discussions on land use, grazing routes, and agricultural policy, which are at the core of many of the farmer-herder conflicts across Nigeria.

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The Human Toll of Violence in Benue

Over the past decade, thousands of lives have been lost in Benue State due to ethnic, communal, and land-based conflicts. Families have been displaced, homes destroyed, and livelihoods lost.

Many victims of the violence now live in overcrowded and underfunded IDP camps. Children in these camps suffer from malnutrition, lack of education, and inadequate healthcare. Women and girls are especially vulnerable to sexual violence and exploitation in these insecure environments.

President Tinubu’s visit, therefore, is not only about politics or security—it is a humanitarian gesture. It offers a glimmer of hope to thousands of Nigerians who have been affected by the violence and are looking to the government for protection and support.

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What Benue People Expect from Tinubu

As President Tinubu arrives in Benue, expectations are high. The people want more than just speeches—they want concrete actions. Here are some of the major demands and expectations from the President’s visit:

1. Deployment of more security forces to protect vulnerable communities.

2. Establishment of peace and reconciliation commissions to resolve land and ethnic disputes.

3. Provision of relief materials to displaced persons in IDP camps.

4. Rebuilding of destroyed communities and rehabilitation of affected families.

5. Implementation of long-term agricultural reforms to prevent further farmer-herder clashes.

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Conclusion: A Defining Moment for President Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu’s visit to Benue State on June 18, 2025, could be a defining moment in his presidency. It represents not just a shift in travel plans but a shift in priorities—a clear signal that the Federal Government is ready to take concrete action to resolve Nigeria’s internal conflicts.

By choosing to engage directly with the people most affected by violence and displacement, Tinubu is positioning himself as a president of the people—one who listens, understands, and acts.

As the people of Benue and the rest of Nigeria watch closely, many will be hoping that this visit marks the beginning of a new era of peace, security, and development in the Middle Belt.