The Federal Government has refuted a trending social media narrative suggesting Nigeria was absent from the ongoing 9th Tokyo International Conference for African Development (TICAD9) in Yokohama, Japan, after a video showing an empty booth labelled Nigeria went viral. In a statement, officials described the claim as misleading, stressing that Nigeria’s mission at the summit goes beyond trade fair appearances.

According to the delegation, led by President Bola Tinubu, the country’s participation is focused on strategic bilateral and multilateral engagements designed to secure tangible outcomes in key sectors such as power, industry, and agriculture. The Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NACCIMA) is also scheduled to host an investment forum on Thursday, August 21, 2025, while ministers and business leaders are engaged in side meetings with global partners.

Highlighting some of the key negotiations, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, is finalising agreements on several Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)-funded projects, including the Lagos-Ogun Power Transmission System Improvement, a renewable energy scale-up project worth $190 million, and vocational training partnerships through NAPTIN. He is also scheduled to hold talks with global OEMs such as Toshiba and Hitachi. Meanwhile, the Bank of Industry, led by Dr. Supo Olusi, is holding high-level fund syndication talks with JICA and other multilateral institutions. The Presidency emphasised that Nigeria is “fully and well represented” at TICAD9 and actively part of essential conversations shaping Africa’s development agenda.