Why Tinubu Skipped Lagos Project Inauguration – Presidency Cites Security Briefings

Akahi News learnt that the Presidency has finally explained why President Bola Ahmed Tinubu did not personally attend the inauguration of key projects in Lagos despite being physically present in the state. The clarification comes after days of speculation and whispered questions from political observers.

Speaking on Wednesday, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, offered a direct answer: the President was preoccupied with urgent national assignments, particularly security-related matters that could not wait.

So while Lagosians waited for the President to cut ribbons and unveil plaques, Tinubu was behind closed doors, receiving intelligence that could mean the difference between peace and crisis in other parts of the country. Is that not the kind of president Nigeria needs?

Beyond Public Appearances, Governance Was Happening

Akahi News gathered that during an interview on Channels Television, Dare confirmed that Tinubu remained in Lagos but had been heavily engaged with governance responsibilities. The public saw an empty chair at the commissioning. The President saw security dossiers that demanded his eyes.

“President Tinubu is in Lagos. Beyond public appearances, he has been deeply involved in state matters,” Dare said.

It was alleged that the President had been receiving continuous security briefings, especially following recent developments in Plateau State. The situation in Jos, it appears, has demanded the kind of attention that no ribbon-cutting ceremony can compete with.

“In the last 10 days, particularly since the situation in Jos, the President has been focused on critical updates from the intelligence community. Security issues demand top priority,” Dare added.

According to him, Tinubu has been closely monitoring events nationwide while working with security agencies and reviewing intelligence reports. That is not the stuff of photo opportunities. That is the unseen, unglamorous labour of leadership.

The Lagos Projects and the President’s Itinerary

Earlier, the Lagos State Government had announced traffic adjustments ahead of the planned inauguration of major infrastructure projects, which the President was initially scheduled to commission. Among the projects were the Opebi-Mende Link Bridge and the Tolu Schools Complex in Ajegunle. Expectations were high. The city prepared.

But Tinubu’s itinerary told a different story. He had arrived in Lagos on April 2 after visiting Plateau State, where he assessed the aftermath of killings in the Angwan Rukuba area of Jos North Local Government Area. On April 4, he briefly travelled to Ogun State to inaugurate the Gateway Cargo Airport and a Nigeria Customs Service hub before returning to Lagos the same day.

Akahi News had earlier reported that the President’s absence from the Lagos commissioning had sparked murmurs. Some wondered if there was a rift with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. Others questioned whether the President was unwell. The rumour mill, as it always does in Nigeria, worked overtime.

Now, the Presidency has spoken. The answer is security. And in a country where insecurity has claimed too many lives, can anyone honestly argue that a bridge commissioning should take precedence over intelligence briefings?

It is not a child’s play to be President of Nigeria. Every day brings a new crisis. Every hour demands a decision. Every security briefing could contain news of an impending attack. To expect a president to smile for cameras while the nation burns elsewhere is to misunderstand the weight of the office.

Tinubu stayed in Lagos. He did not fly back to Abuja. He was in the same city as the commissioning. But he chose to be a president rather than a ribbon-cutter. That may not satisfy those who wanted a photo with the President. But it should comfort those who want a President who takes security seriously.

The Opebi-Mende Link Bridge is open. The Tolu Schools Complex has been commissioned. Senate President Godswill Akpabio did the honours. The projects are not less valuable because Tinubu was not there.

But the security briefings Tinubu attended? Those may have saved lives. That is a different kind of inauguration altogether—the inauguration of vigilance, of priority, of leadership that knows what matters most.

Nigeria may not remember which president opened a bridge. But Nigeria will never forget a president who failed to act while blood flowed. On Wednesday, Tinubu chose the latter concern. For that, he deserves not criticism but a moment of understanding.

Key Summary Box

What happened: President Bola Tinubu did not personally attend the inauguration of key Lagos projects despite being in the state, sparking speculation.
The Presidency’s explanation: Special Adviser Sunday Dare said Tinubu was preoccupied with urgent national assignments, particularly security briefings following recent developments in Plateau State.
The President’s recent movements: Tinubu arrived in Lagos on April 2 after visiting Plateau State. On April 4, he went to Ogun State to inaugurate the Gateway Cargo Airport and a Customs hub before returning to Lagos.
Projects affected: The Opebi-Mende Link Bridge and the Tolu Schools Complex in Ajegunle were among the projects commissioned by Senate President Godswill Akpabio instead.
Why it matters to Nigerians: The clarification shifts the narrative from perceived snubs or health concerns to a president prioritising national security over public appearances.
Bottom line: Tinubu was in Lagos but chose security briefings over ribbon-cutting. The Presidency says governance was happening—just not in front of the cameras.