President Bola Tinubu has commenced a significant official visit to Borno State, touching down at the Muhammadu Buhari International Airport in Maiduguri on Friday, December 20, 2025. This visit underscores the administration’s focus on the North-East region and its commitment to commissioning projects that signal progress and rehabilitation in an area historically impacted by insurgency.
The President’s delegation included notable political figures, highlighting the cross-regional importance of the trip. Accompanying him were Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe, former Osun State Governor Chief Bisi Akande, former Zamfara Governor Abdulaziz Yari, and his son, Seyi Tinubu. Their presence suggests a blend of political solidarity and a focus on inter-state collaboration for development in the North-East.
Upon arrival at 1 p.m. aboard the Nigerian Air Force aircraft 5N-FGA, President Tinubu was received by a broad coalition of political leaders. The welcoming party included the host Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno, as well as the Governors of Adamawa, Gombe, Taraba, Katsina, and Delta states. The attendance of the Delta State governor is particularly noteworthy, indicating a national symbolic unity. Also present were the Deputy Senate President, a former Senate President, and key federal ministers—Festus Keyamo (Aviation and Aerospace Development) and Abubakar Kyari (Agriculture and Food Security). This high-level reception underscores the strategic importance the federal and state governments are placing on the visit and the projects being unveiled.
The first order of business was the inauguration of the newly upgraded international wing of the Muhammadu Buhari International Airport. After reviewing a ceremonial guard of honor, President Tinubu cut the tape and unveiled the plaque to officially commission the terminal extension. This infrastructure project is critical for enhancing connectivity to Borno State, potentially boosting economic activity, humanitarian access, and tourism. A modernized airport is a foundational piece for the region’s recovery and future growth.
Following the airport ceremony, the President departed with Governor Zulum to inaugurate a series of state-funded projects central to human capital development and urban mobility. The agenda included the commissioning of electric buses, taxis, and tricycles—an initiative aimed at modernizing public transport, reducing urban pollution, and potentially lowering transportation costs for residents.
The educational component of the visit was substantial. President Tinubu was scheduled to inaugurate multiple schools in the Mafoni area of Maiduguri, including the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Government Day Secondary School (Boys), a Government Day Secondary School for girls, Mafoni Primary School, and a Junior Secondary School. These projects address a critical need in a region where educational infrastructure has been severely disrupted. The naming of a school after the sitting president, while a common political practice, also seeks to create a lasting symbolic link between the administration and educational advancement in the state.
This working visit, therefore, transcends a simple ribbon-cutting exercise. It represents a concerted effort to showcase and solidify developmental gains in Borno State. By highlighting investments in transport (both aerial and urban) and education, the federal and state governments are projecting a narrative of normalization, investment, and future-oriented growth in the heart of the North-East.
