Benue students faced rain and road hazards to welcome President Tinubu in Makurdi, despite a public holiday declared by the state government

[dropcap]D[/dropcap]espite the declaration of a public holiday by the Benue State Government, pupils and students in Makurdi were made to line major roads on Monday to welcome President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

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The president was in the state on an official visit, but the display of protocol came at the expense of child welfare and public safety.

Eyewitnesses reported that many of the schoolchildren stood in poor weather conditions, some of them soaked by rain and sprayed with water from passing vehicles.

The roads leading to the welcome route were filled with stagnant water and mud, making conditions hazardous for the young students.

“This is not how you treat children,” a Makurdi resident said. “They declared a holiday but still forced kids out in the rain for political optics.”

The contradiction has drawn sharp criticism from citizens and rights groups who questioned the necessity of exposing schoolchildren to such conditions, particularly during a declared work-free day.

Despite declaring a public holiday, schoolchildren were made to line rain-soaked roads just to welcome the president.

Social media users also reacted angrily, calling it a failure of governance and disregard for the wellbeing of minors.

President Tinubu’s itinerary in the state included meetings with state officials and the inauguration of infrastructure projects.

But the optics of soaked children waving flags in flooded gutters have taken centre stage in public discourse around the visit.

While it’s not unusual for schoolchildren to be involved in ceremonial welcomes during state visits, critics say the decision to keep them outdoors under such weather conditions and in unsafe terrain reflects poor judgment by local organisers.

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As the images continue to spark outrage online, many are calling on the government to issue an explanation — and an apology — for putting young lives at unnecessary risk in pursuit of ceremonial formality.