By Abdulkarim Ibrahim
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration, accusing it of lacking direction in foreign policy. The party’s national publicity secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, described the administration’s response to the US travel advisory as a “national embarrassment”.
The US government has placed Nigeria on Level 3: “Reconsider Travel”, which the ADC sees as a reflection of the administration’s failure to protect citizens and uphold the country’s image abroad. The party believes this advisory is a damning indictment of the Tinubu administration’s performance.
The ADC also pointed out that Nigeria’s absence of ambassadors in key world capitals is evidence that the country has become “voiceless” under Tinubu’s leadership. This, they argue, further highlights the administration’s failure to effectively represent Nigeria’s interests abroad.
The party’s statement emphasized that the US travel advisory is another public indictment of the government’s failure, and it seems the administration is not taking adequate steps to address these issues and restore Nigeria’s image.
“At a time when our image is under assault and foreign confidence in our systems is plummeting, Nigeria is voiceless at the world’s most important tables thanks to the Tinubu administration.
“Not even during the civil war did Nigeria fail to have ambassadors in place for this long.”
The party stated that the US travel advisory highlights Nigeria’s declining healthcare and security, warning foreigners to buy evacuation insurance before visiting.
“What kind of country are we becoming? One where a visitor must plan for emergency airlift before stepping off the plane?” it asked.
The ADC also faulted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for allegedly deflecting blame under the guise of ongoing reforms, adding that diplomatic appointments are too crucial to be trivialised.
The party stated: “Serious governments don’t use reforms as excuses to stop governing. Since our ambassadors were recalled in October 2023, five of the G7 countries have changed their leaders.
“Yet, Nigeria has had no high-level diplomat in place to engage their new administrations to secure our interests.
“This is not just a missed opportunity—it is an outright diplomatic failure.”
The ADC also criticized Tinubu’s government, stating that it cannot rely on rhetoric about merit and integrity when its appointment record tells a different story. The party believes that the government’s actions do not align with its claims of prioritizing merit and integrity in appointments.
The ADC’s statement suggests that the government’s track record on appointments has been disappointing, and it cannot hide behind empty words about values such as merit and integrity. Instead, the party expects the government to demonstrate its commitment to these values through tangible actions and decisions.
“This is what happens when a government treats diplomacy as a side hustle.
“We are absent where we must be present. We are silent where we should be persuasive. We seem to be leaderless at home and invisible abroad,” the party said.
The party called on the federal government to take immediate action to improve Nigeria’s global reputation. The party believes that swift measures are necessary to restore the country’s standing in the international community.
The ADC’s urging emphasizes the need for prompt and effective action to address the issues affecting Nigeria’s global image. By acting quickly, the government can work to rebuild the country’s reputation and regain its position on the global stage.