By Chibuike Nwabuko
Yokohama (PRECISE POST) – The Presidency has debunked a trending social media narrative surrounding an unoccupied booth labelled “NIGERIA” at the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), describing it as a misrepresentation of the country’s mission at the high-level summit currently underway in Yokohama.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga released on his X handle clarified that Nigeria’s delegation is in Japan for targeted bilateral and multilateral engagements not for the public-facing trade exhibition that has been the subject of social media commentary.
“While we understand the urge by many social media users to seek clicks with incorrect posts, we also recognise that the author may have acted out of patriotic concern, albeit one rooted in ignorance of Nigeria’s actual mission at TICAD9,” the statement read.
President Tinubu is leading a focused delegation to the triennial summit, prioritizing key economic sectors including power, industry, and agriculture. Contrary to the viral narrative, Nigeria opted not to participate in the open trade expo, which is designed for general public interaction, as its engagements are primarily strategic and behind closed doors.
The Nigerian delegation is working closely with top private sector representatives under the umbrella of Corporate Nigeria. Additionally, the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NACCIMA) is scheduled to host a dedicated investment forum on Thursday, August 21, 2025.
High-level meetings are also being held with international partners. President Tinubu is set to lead sessions with executives from Toyota Corporation, CFAO, UN-Habitat, UNDP, and the International Finance Corporation.
Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, is spearheading critical negotiations with Japanese stakeholders, including pre-activation talks for power projects backed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). These include the Lagos-Ogun Power Transmission System Improvement Project, a $190 million Distributed Renewable Energy Scale-up Initiative, and vocational training partnerships between JICA and Nigeria’s National Power Training Institute (NAPTIN).
Furthermore, the Minister is scheduled to engage with major Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) such as TOSHIBA and HITACHI. Meanwhile, the Bank of Industry, under Dr. Supo Olusi, is participating in global funding talks with JICA and other multilateral financial institutions.
“The trending video and related posts fail to reflect the depth and seriousness of Nigeria’s participation at TICAD9,” Onanuga emphasized. “Our country is fully and effectively engaged in the critical conversations shaping the future of African development.”
The government urges the public to verify information and avoid jumping to conclusions based on isolated or incomplete social media content.
