• Booth scheduled for inauguration today, Foreign Affairs Ministry clarifies
• ADC spokesperson: Empty cubicle indication of APC govt’s ‘incompetence’
• Former VP Atiku says incident an ‘ongoing show of shame’

Nigeria’s image at the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) suffered a blow yesterday after its booth was left unmanned on opening day, sparking outrage, ridicule and citizen intervention, and fuelling criticism of government inefficiency on the global stage.

President Bola Tinubu, yesterday in Yokohama, renewed Nigeria’s call for comprehensive reforms of the United Nations Security Council, insisting that Africa deserves permanent representation, including veto powers.

Speaking at the plenary on Peace and Stability during the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development, the President declared:

“Africa deserves two permanent seats, with all the privileges, including the Right of Veto. It also deserves additional non-permanent seats as provided in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration.”

While other African countries actively engaged delegates, no government officials were found around Nigeria’s booth, a situation that generated concerns among some private sector participants from the country, who stepped in to prevent further embarrassment.

One of the first Nigerians to voice his frustration on X was Mr Idris Ayodeji Bello, who took to his (@idrisayobello) handle to express his dismay at the government’s conduct at the conference.

He wrote: “I hate to show negative things about Nigeria, but it is sad that Nigeria is the only unmanned booth at TICAD9 in Japan, after all the folks who probably got an estacode for coming to Japan.

“Only God knows how many Japanese folks have asked me about the unmanned booth seeing my dress. So ashamed, I have now designated myself as Honorary Consul and taken over the booth to engage visitors,” Bello said.

Also speaking, Dr Ola Brown (@NaijaFlyingDr) confirmed the desertion of Nigeria’s booth.

“Had an interesting time manning the Nigeria booth today with Idris. Unfortunately, the booth was left unstaffed by the Nigerian public sector team, but we still had engaging conversations with academics, private business owners and NGOs who asked great questions.

“I am not sure, but even Cape Verde, whose entire GDP is less than Zenith Bank’s revenue, had a fully staffed and decorated booth. Lesotho was fully staffed with a smaller economy than Oshogbo,” she added.

Mike Adeyemi (@macdelaw) lamented that Nigerians are constantly left to cover for government failures.

“From private individuals to small-scale businesses, Nigerians have always been forced to provide their own electricity and security, doing what the government consistently fails to do. Well done.”

Also reacting, the Interim National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Bolaji Abdullahi, criticised the Federal Government over Nigeria’s poor representation.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Abdullahi said: “The APC government’s incompetence has followed the President to Japan. The President travelled with a large entourage, yet there was no one at the Nigerian booth. After this jamboree, who will follow up to ensure that Nigeria actually benefits from #TICAD9? When we asked them to appoint ambassadors, they went ahead and appointed KWAM 1. Nigerians, this is what ‘anyhowness’ looks like.”

For his part, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, in a statement, described the incident as “an ongoing show of shame,” noting that the absence of officials at such a critical international investment forum was a reflection of poor governance.

“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 said.

However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (@NigeriaMFA) pushed back, insisting that the booth had not been officially opened, even though the conference had already begun.

“Contrary to a tweet made by a participant at TICAD, the Nigerian booth at #TICAD9 has not yet been opened. The booth will be officially inaugurated on Thursday, 21st August 2025, after which it will become fully operational and serve the delegates of TICAD.”

The ministry’s explanation drew further anger, with @UnkleAyo dismissing it as another example of Nigeria’s poor administrative culture.

“Other booths from other countries were opened, but you want to open your booth a day later. God forbid. We imagine how much went into the budget for the trip, how many people you masked under ‘attendees’ and ‘delegates’. Not one person could be at the booth. Not one.

“Again, who is surprised? Definitely not me. If it works in Nigeria, it is definitely a mistake. Anyhowness, brokenness and outright nonchalance are the Nigerian administrative way. Tueh,” he said.

Since its launch in 1993, TICAD has served as a platform for Japan, Africa and other international partners to shape Africa’s development agenda. This year’s conference runs between August 20 and 22 in Yokohama City, with African governments, businesses and civil society groups in attendance.

When contacted, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ spokesperson, Mr Kimiebi I. Ebienfa, said the Nigerian government was fully represented at the conference, adding that the Minister, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, was also in attendance.

He explained that the Nigerian delegation was actively engaged on the first day with high-level negotiations and had therefore postponed the official opening of the booth till today (Thursday).

“That Nigeria’s booth was not opened on the first day was not an indication of loss of focus. The official opening has been scheduled for Thursday, as I was duly informed,” he said.

ALSO, the Presidency dismissed reports circulating on social media suggesting that Nigeria was not represented at the event.

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement, said the trending video showing an empty booth labelled “Nigeria” misrepresented the country’s mission and activities at the conference.

He explained that the Nigerian delegation, led by President Bola Tinubu, was focused on achieving tangible outcomes from bilateral and multilateral engagements targeted at key sectors such as power, industry and agriculture.

“The Nigerian official delegation working with Corporate Nigeria, represented by some of our leading business leaders, didn’t come to Yokohama and Tokyo to attend any trade expo, designed as an open forum for participating nations,” Onanuga stated.

He noted that the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) is scheduled to host an investment forum today, 2025, while ministers and senior officials are engaged in sideline discussions.

According to the statement, President Tinubu will hold meetings with the executives of Toyota Corporation, CFAO, UN-Habitat, UNDP and the International Finance Corporation.

Providing details of sectoral engagements, Onanuga said the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, is leading talks on projects funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). These include the Lagos–Ogun Power Transmission System Improvement Project to boost grid stability and industrial connections; a NAPTIN–JICA partnership to strengthen vocational training in the power sector; and the $190 million Distributed Access Through Renewable Energy Scale-up project.

He added that Adelabu would also hold negotiations with leading Original Equipment Manufacturers such as Toshiba and Hitachi.

Similarly, the Bank of Industry, led by its Managing Director, Dr. Supo Olusi, is in discussions with JICA and other multilateral institutions on its annual global fund syndication.

“Social media posts are often sensational and do not tell complete stories, just as the trending video does not capture Nigeria’s participation at TICAD9. Our country is fully and well represented and part of the essential conversations and negotiations that are going on,” Onanuga said.

Tinubu demands UN reform, Japanese PM pledges $5.5b for Africa at TICAD 9
YESTERDAY, Tinubu stressed that inclusivity, diversity and the rule of law remain Africa’s greatest strengths, and urged world leaders to embrace fresh thinking in the quest for peace and stability.

He also used the forum to commend the Nigerian Armed Forces for their resilience and victories in the fight against insurgency and criminality, while reaffirming his administration’s determination to address the root causes of insecurity through stronger institutions and economic reforms.

“Our brave Armed Forces can win any number of battles, but we do justice to their heroism only when we, as government, are courageous in tackling not just terror, but also the underlying causes of terror,” he said.

The President lamented the persistence of conflicts across Africa despite progress, citing recent peace accords in Congo as proof that linking mediation with investment and economic considerations could yield sustainable results.

“We should be under no illusions about the scale of our task. But neither should we underestimate our successes. New models of mediation tied to investment are working, and underline the need for fresh thinking,” he added.

Tinubu further cautioned against overreliance on aid, urging instead for market-driven cooperation, stronger trade relations and institutional reforms.

On technology, he called for international collaboration to ensure innovation becomes “a tool for peace and trust, not division and alienation.”

Earlier, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba pledged fresh financial support for Africa, unveiling a framework that will make available up to $5.5 billion through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in partnership with the African Development Bank.

The initiative, he said, would catalyse private sector investment across the continent, with a focus on sustainable growth, youth and women empowerment, and regional integration.

Ishiba urged African nations to partner with Japan even as his country grapples with the challenges of a declining population and shrinking farmland.

“In 75 years, Japan’s population would have been halved. Meanwhile, Africa’s youthful population holds great promise. To unleash that potential, Africa must deepen industrialisation, create employment, and expand its manufacturing base,” he said.