The exclusion of Nigeria from a high-profile US-Africa summit hosted by President Donald Trump has drawn sharp criticism from opposition figures, who call it a damning indictment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and its dwindling global relevance.
On July 9, Trump is scheduled to welcome leaders from five African nations —Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal —to the White House for discussions centered on commercial opportunities.
Notably absent from the list is Nigeria, once touted as Africa’s diplomatic heavyweight.
In a strongly worded statement, Phrank Shaibu, Special Assistant on Public Communication to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, described the snub as “a verdict—scathing symbolism and staggering in implication.”
