By Muhammad Mamman
President Bola Tinubu’s administration is facing fresh criticism after images emerged showing Nigeria’s booth at the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) completely deserted — despite the President’s high-profile attendance and reportedly large delegation.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) slammed the incident as a reflection of ongoing governmental dysfunction, calling it an embarrassment on the international stage.
“The APC government’s incompetence has followed the President to Japan,” said ADC spokesperson Bolaji Abdullahi in a statement Wednesday.
Abdullahi questioned why no representative was present at Nigeria’s booth, even as President Tinubu traveled with what he described as a “robust entourage.”
“After this jamboree, who will follow up to ensure that Nigeria actually benefits from #TICAD9?” he added, suggesting the event may amount to little more than a photo-op for the current administration.
The controversy was sparked by a post from Nigerian participant Idris Ayodeji Bello, who shared photos on X (formerly Twitter), showing Nigeria’s booth unstaffed while other countries actively engaged delegates.
“I hate to show negative things about Nigeria, but it is sad that Nigeria is the only unmanned booth at TICAD9 in Japan. Upon all the folks who probably got estacode for coming to Japan,” Bello wrote.
The criticism didn’t end there. Abdullahi also took aim at the administration’s controversial appointments — notably that of Fuji music legend Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (KWAM 1) as an ambassador.
“When we asked them to appoint ambassadors, they went ahead and appointed KWAM 1. Nigerians, this is what ‘anyhowness’ looks like,” he said, referencing the term commonly used to describe a lack of structure or seriousness.
In response to the growing backlash, Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on social media clarifying that the booth had not yet been officially opened.
“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 statement read.
