President Bola Tinubu’s decision to skip the ongoing United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York for the second year running has raised serious diplomatic concerns, with critics warning that Nigeria risks losing ground on the global stage.
Speaking from the UN headquarters, former presidential aide and seasoned journalist Laolu Akande stressed that Nigeria’s absence is already being noticed by world leaders.
“Presence is power and absence is noticed,” Akande warned during the My Take segment of INSIDE SOURCES WITH LAOLU AKANDE on Channels TV. “With no permanent representative at the UN since 2024 and ambassadors missing from over 100 missions, Nigeria’s visibility is shrinking.”
The UNGA is the world’s largest diplomatic convergence, where presidents, prime ministers and monarchs set global agendas, deepen bilateral ties, and secure international deals. Akande cautioned that skipping such a forum at a time when Africa is pushing for Security Council reform and fairer climate financing undermines Nigeria’s influence.
Citing former President Muhammadu Buhari’s consistent attendance, Akande emphasised that presidential presence carries unique weight: “Presidents open doors that vice presidents cannot. A handshake in New York can accelerate deals that might otherwise take years.”
Although Vice President Kashim Shettima represented Nigeria last year to wide praise, Akande argued that it cannot replace the impact of the president himself.
This year’s UNGA, running from 23 to 29 September, is debating climate financing, debt relief, global security, and UN reforms — issues where Nigeria should be leading. Akande noted the cost of Tinubu’s absence: “With over 200 million citizens and our role as West Africa’s economic engine, presidential absence speaks louder than words.”
No official reason has been given for Tinubu’s decision, but critics suggest domestic challenges may be taking precedence over Nigeria’s global role.
Meanwhile, Akande has been actively engaging at the UNGA as both journalist and analyst. He interviewed UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed on Africa’s role in global governance, attended the Bill Gates Foundation Goalkeepers event alongside former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Emir Lamido Sanusi, and has featured on Channels TV’s Diplomatic Channel dissecting UNGA geopolitics.
By amplifying African perspectives in global debates often dominated by developed nations, Akande has underscored the very argument he presses on Nigerian leaders: that absence at UNGA comes at a steep diplomatic price.
