Former Nigerian vice president Atiku Abubakar has mocked the government of President Bola Tinubu after a video showing Nigeria’s empty booth at the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) went viral, sparking embarrassment and criticism of the country’s delegation.

The biennial summit, taking place in Yokohama, Japan, is one of the most significant global platforms for Africa’s development, bringing together heads of state, Japanese officials, investors and international organisations. Participating countries are expected to showcase their economic potential at dedicated stands, highlighting opportunities in trade, energy, agriculture and technology.

But on Tuesday, social entrepreneur Idris Ayodeji Bello posted a video on social media showing Nigeria’s booth unmanned while delegations from other African nations, including Senegal and Togo, actively engaged visitors. “It is sad that Nigeria is the only unmanned booth at TICAD9,” he wrote, adding that he had temporarily taken it upon himself to answer questions from curious Japanese attendees.

The video quickly circulated online, triggering outrage at home. Atiku Abubakar, Tinubu’s main opponent in the disputed 2023 presidential election, seized on the incident to criticise the government’s performance.

“Just like the ongoing show of shame at the empty Nigerian booth in faraway Japan, two years into this administration we are probably waiting for an official inauguration or preferably an ‘unveiling’ of Renewed Hope before Nigerians can experience good governance,” Atiku posted on X.

The episode has also drawn criticism from within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Party member Aina Dipo said the failure to properly manage the booth was “an unnecessary stain on our image and reputation,” pointing to what he called poor coordination among ministries responsible for foreign affairs and trade.

In response, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied negligence, insisting that Nigeria’s stand had not yet been formally launched.

“The Nigerian booth will be officially inaugurated on Thursday, 21 August, after which it will become fully operational,” ministry spokesman Kimiebi Ebienfa told local media. The National Orientation Agency echoed this position, stressing that the opening date was consistent with government protocol.

Despite the explanations, the incident has raised questions about preparation and diplomacy. President Tinubu had earlier declared that Nigeria was attending TICAD9 “with clarity of purpose,” aiming to secure over $1 billion in trade and investment deals.