The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has strongly criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration following the United States government’s decision to issue a Level 3 travel advisory for Nigeria, urging its citizens to “Reconsider Travel” due to escalating insecurity and a deteriorating healthcare system.
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC described the development as a “national humiliation” and a clear indication of the government’s failure to ensure citizens’ safety and uphold Nigeria’s international image.
The party further condemned the prolonged absence of Nigerian ambassadors in strategic global capitals, notably Washington D.C., accusing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of neglecting key diplomatic postings under the pretext of administrative reforms.
“Diplomacy is not a side hustle,” the ADC stated, stressing that Nigeria’s silence and absence on the global stage only serve to worsen its already declining reputation.
The party raised alarm over the advisory’s specific reference to Nigeria’s failing healthcare infrastructure, noting that visitors are now being advised to make provisions for evacuation insurance before entering the country. “What kind of country are we becoming? One where a visitor must plan for emergency airlift before stepping off the plane?” it queried.
Expressing dismay at the lack of diplomatic representation in Washington D.C., where the advisory was released, the ADC said the situation is unacceptable. The party pointed out that although five G7 countries have undergone leadership changes since October 2023, Nigeria has failed to send high-level diplomats to engage with these new administrations.
The party accused the Tinubu-led government of using “reforms” as a cover for negligence, insisting that effective governance should not be paused in the name of restructuring.
“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 ADC stated.
Reiterating its demands, the party urged President Tinubu to urgently address the vacuum in Nigeria’s diplomatic corps and reaffirm a genuine commitment to effective governance and foreign policy engagement.
