The Presidency has reacted to the video of an empty booth labelled ‘NIGERIA’ at the ongoing 9th Tokyo International Conference for African Development (TICAD9) in Yokohama, Japan.
FG recently revealed that the clip completely misrepresented the nation’s mission and activities at the conference.
Speaking via a press statement, the presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, said that the Nigerian delegation, which comprised prominent business leaders, was not present in Yokohama and Tokyo to attend any trade expo, designed as an open forum for participating nations.
According to him, while the brain behind the viral clip might have acted out of concern, it was an ignorant concern because the absent delegation is currently occupied with bilateral sideline discussions.
He clarified that the delegation’s schedule doesn’t include participation in an open forum trade exhibition.
“While we understand the urge by many social media users to seek clicks with many incorrect posts, we also recognise that the author may have acted out of patriotic concern. But it is a concern inspired by ignorance about Nigeria’s mission at the triennial conference.
The Nigerian delegation to the summit, led by President Bola Tinubu, is laser-focused on its core objectives of achieving tangible outcomes from the scheduled lineup of bilateral and multilateral engagements targeted at driving optimum performance in key sectors of the economy, especially in 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.
The Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NACCIMA) is scheduled to host an investment forum on Thursday, August 21, 2025.
The Nigerian ministers are busy with bilateral sideline discussions. At the same time, President Tinubu will lead meetings with the executives of Toyota Corporation, CFAO, UN-Habitat, UNDP, and the International Finance Corporation. The delegation’s schedule does not include participation in an open forum trade exhibition,” it read.
He further noted that the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, is currently attending to a pre-activation meeting to oversee various power projects being funded by a Japanese agency.
Bayo concluded by saying that there is an ongoing collaboration between the National Power Training Institute (NAPTIN) and JICA to boost Vocational Training Delivery for Nigeria’s power sector.
“Specifically, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, is leading the pre-activation meeting to execute several power projects in Nigeria that are being funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
One of the projects is the Lagos-Ogun Power Transmission System Improvement, which is designed to improve the wheeling capacity and grid stability and enable the connection of industrial customers on the corridor.
There is also the partnership between the National Power Training Institute (NAPTIN) and JICA to enhance Vocational Training Delivery for the power sector.
The third power project is the Distributed Access Through Renewable Energy Scale-up, for which $190 million has been provided.
The Minister of Power is scheduled to negotiate with notable Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) such as TOSHIBA and HITACHI.
The Bank of Industry, led by its Managing Director/Chief Executive, Dr. Supo Olusi, is also in high-level discussions with the Japan International Cooperation Agency and other participating multilateral institutions for its annual global fund syndication,” he added.
