“The Nigerian delegation didn’t come to Yokohama and Tokyo to attend any trade expo. Our mission is to drive optimum performance through strategic engagements with global partners”
Presidency Denies ‘Empty Booth’ Claims, Says Nigeria Is Driving Strategic Deals at TICAD9
The Presidency has dismissed viral social media claims that Nigeria had an “empty booth” at the 9th Tokyo International Conference for African Development (TICAD9) in Yokohama, Japan, insisting the country’s mission is focused on substantive partnerships rather than optics.
In a statement on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the video circulating online misrepresented Nigeria’s participation at the triennial summit, where President Bola Tinubu is leading the delegation.
“The Nigerian delegation didn’t come to Yokohama and Tokyo to attend any trade expo. Our mission is to drive optimum performance through strategic engagements with global partners,” Onanuga clarified.
He noted that Nigeria’s team, in collaboration with Corporate Nigeria, was “laser-focused” on securing outcomes in power, industry, and agriculture rather than mounting displays at an open trade forum.
Supporting this position, Otega Ogra, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Digital Engagements, explained that the space seen in the viral clip was not a pavilion but part of a designated spillover area. Such rooms, he said, are typically used by delegates without access to the main auditorium as workspaces, quiet zones, or hubs for side meetings.
“Several other countries also had spaces that were either quiet or lightly used, making it neither unusual nor a sign of disengagement,” Ogra explained. He further emphasized that Nigeria’s participation is anchored on substance, not showmanship. “We do not need to mimic others to prove our relevance. Visibility is not the only metric. Value is. While some chase optics, Nigerian officials have been working deliberately, consistently, and with focus.”
Onanuga highlighted that President Tinubu is scheduled to hold bilateral sessions with executives of Toyota Corporation, CFAO, UN-Habitat, UNDP, and the International Finance Corporation, while ministers are pursuing sectoral agreements on the sidelines.
For example, Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu is leading negotiations on multiple projects funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). These include the Lagos-Ogun Power Transmission System Improvement project to strengthen grid stability, a vocational training partnership between the National Power Training Institute (NAPTIN) and JICA, and the $190 million Distributed Access Through Renewable Energy Scale-up project. Adelabu is also in talks with global OEMs such as Toshiba and Hitachi.
Similarly, the Bank of Industry, under Managing Director Dr. Supo Olusi, is engaging JICA and other multilateral institutions as part of its annual global syndication of funds.
Onanuga concluded by cautioning Nigerians against being misled by social media narratives. “Nigeria is fully and well represented at TICAD9 and is part of the key conversations shaping Africa’s partnerships with Japan and other global players,” he said.
