The Executive Secretary and CEO of the Nigerian Shippers Council, Barrister Pius Akutah, has come to the defense of President Bola Tinubu over the ongoing insecurity in Benue State, insisting that the President was not adequately briefed about the recent killings in the region.
Speaking to journalists at his residence in Makurdi, Akutah said the public backlash that followed the President’s initial comments on the Benue attacks was understandable — but unfair, given the poor information he had received at the time.
“He didn’t have the right briefing,” Akutah explained. “That’s why people were upset when he spoke about the killings. But after the governor’s interview, it became clear what the President had been told — and why he reacted the way he did.”
Despite the initial confusion, Akutah urged the people of Benue to remain hopeful and trust in President Tinubu’s resolve to restore peace and stability in the state.
According to him, the President is fully committed to addressing the root causes of insecurity, including the political tensions fueling the crisis. “Mr. President is sincere,” he said. “He’s not one to make empty promises. He is determined to leave behind a legacy that will outlive his time in office.”
Akutah also praised the administration’s broader efforts to rebuild Nigeria’s economy, highlighting bold reforms like the removal of fuel subsidy and renewed focus on the non-oil sector.
“When he said he would remove the subsidy, he didn’t waste time. He did it on day one. And even when people pushed back, he stood his ground,” Akutah noted. “Yes, there’s hunger and hardship, but that pain is part of the healing process. The failures of past administrations are now being corrected.”
He pointed to signs of progress, such as the stabilization of the naira and renewed growth in non-oil revenues, as evidence that the country is on the right track — even if it doesn’t feel like it just yet.
“The President is reaching out to people, including those who once opposed him. He’s trying to unite the country and drive us into a new era of economic rebirth,” Akutah said. “People just need to be patient. The light is coming.”
