President Bola Tinubu has been likened to an experienced pilot guiding Nigeria through its current challenges. This comparison was made by Sen. George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), during a meeting with the management of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.
The NAN team, led by Managing Director Ali M. Ali, also included Director of Administration Abdulhadi Khaliel and Editor-in-Chief, Ephraims Sheyin. The visit aimed to update Akume about NAN’s upcoming inaugural Annual International Lecture, scheduled for October 3.
The lecture’s theme is “Insecurity in the Sahel (2008-2024): Dissecting Nigeria’s Challenges—Genesis, Impacts, and Options.”
Akume described Nigeria’s current situation as being akin to a plane taking off in turbulent weather. He said that, just as a skilled pilot is needed to safely land a plane in such conditions, Nigeria needs experienced leadership to navigate its problems.
“There are many challenges in the country right now. Tinubu’s government is like a plane that has taken off in rough weather. It’s difficult to control, but with a skilled pilot who knows the way, the landing can be safe. That’s why Tinubu is a veteran captain who will guide us safely,” Akume explained.
He praised NAN’s upcoming lecture as an important initiative, highlighting the crucial role of the media in communicating government policies and educating the public. “This lecture is a wonderful initiative. It’s vital for summits and conferences to have a strong focus on security issues. The media plays a key role in sharing information about government policies and programs, and your lecture is a great example of this,” Akume said.
Akume also noted that the current administration has been working on improving Nigeria’s security situation. He mentioned that the security architecture has been redesigned and that progress is being made.
Earlier, Mr. Ali commended Akume for his significant contributions since the current administration began. He explained that the lecture is timely given the state of insecurity in Nigeria and the Sahel region. “We are holding this international lecture to address insecurity not only in Nigeria but across the Sahel region. We’ve focused on the period from 2008 to 2024 to highlight ongoing issues like terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping,” Ali said.
Ali also praised Tinubu’s government for its efforts to tackle insecurity, including strengthening the Nigerian Armed Forces. “We are examining these issues beyond Nigeria’s borders because the Sahel region is facing severe crises,” he added.
