The Nigerian Presidency has dismissed a trending video circulating online that purportedly shows an “empty Nigerian booth” at the ongoing 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) in Yokohama, Japan, stressing that the country’s mission at the summit is far more strategic than mere participation in a trade exhibition.
In a statement signed by the Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency described the viral video as misleading and a gross misrepresentation of Nigeria’s role at TICAD. “The trending narrative about an empty booth labelled ‘Nigeria’ completely distorts our objectives and activities in Tokyo. The Nigerian delegation did not travel to Japan for a trade fair but to pursue high-level bilateral and multilateral engagements that will yield concrete economic benefits for the nation,” Onanuga said.
According to him, the delegation led by President Bola Tinubu is focused on strengthening partnerships in critical sectors such as power, industry, and agriculture, with the aim of unlocking new investment opportunities. He added that social media sensationalism often thrives on half-truths, pointing out that the author of the viral post may have acted out of patriotic concern but without adequate knowledge of Nigeria’s actual mission at TICAD.
Nigeria’s schedule at the summit is packed with strategic meetings rather than exhibition appearances. On Thursday, August 21, the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NACCIMA) will host an investment forum showcasing opportunities to global investors. Meanwhile, President Tinubu will personally lead closed-door sessions with Toyota Corporation, CFAO, UN-Habitat, UNDP, and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), conversations expected to drive investments into Nigeria’s industrial and infrastructural landscape.
The energy sector is also a top priority. Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, is already in talks with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to activate multiple power projects, including the Lagos-Ogun Power Transmission System Improvement Project, designed to boost grid stability and industrial access. Other initiatives include the NAPTIN-JICA partnership to enhance vocational training for power sector professionals and the Distributed Access Through Renewable Energy Scale-up Project, backed by a $190 million facility. The Minister will also engage with global Original Equipment Manufacturers such as TOSHIBA and HITACHI on technology partnerships.
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Additionally, the Bank of Industry, led by Managing Director Dr. Supo Olusi, is holding high-level financing discussions with JICA and other international development partners to secure its annual global fund syndication, resources expected to support Nigerian industries and entrepreneurs.
The Presidency insists that Nigeria is not missing from TICAD 9 but is instead deeply involved in the real conversations that matter, those capable of transforming its economy. “Our country is fully represented at TICAD 9. The idea that Nigeria was reduced to an empty booth is not only false but also undermines the scope of strategic engagements our leaders and institutions are currently driving in Tokyo,” the statement emphasized.
As the summit progresses, Nigeria’s presence is increasingly being defined not by exhibition stands but by boardroom negotiations and international partnerships that could shape the future of power, industry, and investment in Africa’s largest economy.
