The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has strongly criticised the Federal Government over the latest United States travel advisory, which places Nigeria at Level 3: ‘Reconsider Travel.’
The party described the advisory as a ‘national embarrassment’ and clear evidence of the Tinubu administration’s failure to tackle insecurity and the country’s worsening healthcare system.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC accused the government of failing in its responsibilities both at home and abroad.
The party also pointed to the lack of Nigerian ambassadors in major world capitals, including Washington, D.C., as a serious diplomatic shortcoming.
“For a country of over 200 million people, this is yet another public indictment of the Tinubu administration’s failure to govern,” the statement said.
The U.S. travel advisory cited Nigeria’s inability to provide basic emergency services and criticised the poor state of healthcare, saying most facilities do not meet U.S. standards and many essential medications are unavailable.
The ADC also condemned the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for downplaying the urgent need to appoint ambassadors, using ‘reforms’ as an excuse for inaction.
According to the party, Nigeria has lacked ambassadors in key diplomatic posts since October 2023, leaving the country without a voice on important global matters.
“Not even during the civil war did Nigeria go this long without ambassadors,” the statement noted.
The ADC further observed that five G7 countries have changed leadership during this period, yet Nigeria has had no senior diplomats in place to build relations or protect national interests.
The party accused President Tinubu’s administration of treating diplomacy like a ‘side hustle,’ warning that no serious country can afford such carelessness.
“We are absent where we should be present. We are silent where we should be speaking. It feels like we have no leadership at home and no presence abroad,” the statement read.
The ADC called on the government to stop making excuses and show genuine commitment to proper governance.
“If this government truly values competence, then it must prove it by doing the work, not just making empty statements,” the party said.
The ADC also stressed the practical consequences of diplomatic failure.
“The government should remember that the process of getting ambassadors approved by host countries can be slow and complex. It’s hard to see how this administration plans to fix this embarrassing situation with the little time it has left,” the statement added.
