ADC Slams Tinubu Administration Over Nigeria’s Absence At US-Africa Trade Talks

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration following Nigeria’s exclusion from high-level commercial discussions between the United States and five African nations taking place at the White House this week.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, ADC described Nigeria’s absence as a “damning international indictment” of the government’s economic policies and foreign diplomacy. The talks involve Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal—countries with significantly smaller economies compared to Nigeria.

Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party’s Interim National Publicity Secretary, expressed concern that despite Nigeria’s status as Africa’s largest economy and home to the continent’s most influential diaspora, it was sidelined in favour of smaller states.

“Although we are Africa’s largest economy, with the largest consumer market and the continent’s most influential diaspora, the United States chose to bypass us,” Abdullahi stated.

He cited remarks from U.S. officials indicating that the invitations were extended to countries demonstrating “the ability and willingness to help themselves”—a standard the ADC believes reflects negatively on Nigeria’s current leadership under the All Progressives Congress (APC) government.

“In plain terms, this means Nigeria is no longer taken seriously under President Tinubu,” the statement added.

The ADC further warned of Nigeria’s diminishing international influence, referencing former U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent remarks suggesting tariffs due to Nigeria’s BRICS alignment and what it described as the country’s weakened leadership within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

“Just a few years ago, it would have been unthinkable for such a strategic meeting to hold without Nigeria. This reflects how far our global standing has declined,” the party said.

The ADC also criticized President Tinubu’s ongoing visit to St. Lucia, a Caribbean nation with a much smaller economy, calling it evidence of misplaced priorities.

Contrasting the present with Nigeria’s historical diplomatic clout, the party highlighted global figures like WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as examples of the nation’s former influence.

“This is what happens when a government chooses politics over performance and propaganda over progress. Nigeria is too big, too important, and too proud to be ignored,” Abdullahi stated.

The U.S.-Africa business summit, set to begin on Wednesday, aims to deepen trade and investment ties between American firms and African economies. The ADC warned that Nigeria’s absence from the summit signals a concerning decline in the country’s traditional leadership role on the continent.