Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State has clarified remarks made by President Bola Tinubu regarding the absence of electricity at the Jos airport, stating that the issue is limited to the airport’s runway lighting and does not reflect the power situation across the state.

The governor made the clarification on Wednesday during an interview on Arise Television, following public reactions to the President’s comments during his recent visit to Plateau State in the wake of deadly attacks on residents.

President Tinubu had reportedly expressed concern about the lack of electricity upon arrival at the airport, a statement that sparked speculation about a broader power outage in the state.

Addressing the issue, Mutfwang explained that the President’s observation was specific to the runway, which currently lacks functional lighting.

“The President said the airport runway has no light. No one can say Plateau State has no light,” the governor stated, emphasizing that the remark had been widely misinterpreted.

He further noted that Plateau State is connected to the national grid and also benefits from additional power infrastructure, including one of Nigeria’s earliest hydroelectric power stations.

Mutfwang added that the situation at the airport is already known to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), which oversees its operations, and that discussions are ongoing to resolve the issue.

The governor also highlighted ongoing efforts to upgrade the Jos airport, revealing that the state government had signed a Memorandum of Understanding last year aimed at transforming the facility into an international cargo airport.

He expressed confidence that the planned upgrade would address existing infrastructure challenges, including the runway lighting, and prevent similar concerns in the future.