NEWS
‘Even Gabon Made The List, Not Nigeria’ – ADC Rips Tinubu Over US Trade Snub
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned the exclusion of Nigeria from a high-level United States-Africa commercial summit, placing the blame squarely on the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In a strongly worded statement issued Tuesday, the party described Nigeria’s absence at the White House-hosted talks with five African nations as “a damning international indictment” of the Tinubu administration’s failure in both economic management and foreign diplomacy.
ADC’s Interim National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, lamented that despite Nigeria’s status as Africa’s largest economy and most populated nation, it was snubbed in favour of smaller countries such as Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal.
READ MORE: Political Tsunami In Ondo As Two Ex-PDP Guber Candidates Defect To ADC
“Although we are Africa’s largest economy, with the largest consumer market and the continent’s most influential diaspora, the United States chose to bypass us in favour of nations whose combined GDP is only a fraction of ours,” Abdullahi said.
He referenced a statement from the US government which indicated that the invited countries had demonstrated “the ability and willingness to help themselves,” a benchmark that, according to the ADC, highlights the Nigerian government’s current shortcomings.
“In plain terms, this means Nigeria is no longer taken seriously under President Tinubu,” Abdullahi added.
The party further expressed concern over what it called a deteriorating global perception of Nigeria, citing recent threats by former US President Donald Trump to impose tariffs on BRICS countries—a group Nigeria recently joined—as well as Nigeria’s waning influence within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
“Only a few years ago, it would have been unthinkable for such a meeting to hold without Nigeria. This shows just how far our global standing has declined under this administration,” the statement read.
The ADC also criticised President Tinubu’s current week-long visit to St. Lucia, describing it as “a sign of misplaced priorities,” particularly in the face of major economic and diplomatic challenges at home.
The statement drew comparisons to Nigeria’s former global influence, pointing to figures like Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the current Director-General of the World Trade Organization, as examples of Nigeria’s past leadership stature.
“This is what happens when a government chooses politics over performance, and propaganda over progress. Nigeria is too big, too important, and too proud to be ignored,” Abdullahi concluded.
The US-Africa business summit is set to kick off Wednesday, with the primary aim of strengthening trade and investment between the United States and selected African nations.
ADC warned that Nigeria’s exclusion signals a troubling shift away from its traditional leadership role on the continent.
Oil marketers have warned that Nigerians may soon pay as much as ₦1,500 per litre for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, as global oil prices surge following the escalating conflict involving Iran in the Middle East.
The National President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), Dr. Billy Gillis-Harry, issued the warning on Tuesday while speaking on a television programme on the impact of the global crisis on fuel prices.
According to him, the current volatility in the international oil market has already pushed petrol prices above ₦1,000 per litre at the depot level, with the ex-depot price from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery now standing at about ₦1,175 per litre.
He explained that once logistics, transportation, and other operational costs are added, the final pump price could rise significantly, possibly reaching ₦1,500 per litre in the near future.
Despite concerns about the rising cost of fuel, Gillis-Harry noted that steady availability of petroleum products from the Dangote Refinery remains a major relief for Nigeria, stressing that consistent supply is better than a nationwide fuel scarcity.
He added that the refinery’s production capacity is helping to stabilize supply across the country at a time when global markets remain highly unstable.
The latest price adjustment by the Dangote Refinery marks the fourth review within two weeks. Petrol prices increased from ₦995 per litre to ₦1,175 per litre, while diesel rose from ₦1,430 to about ₦1,620 per litre.
The development comes amid a sharp spike in international crude oil prices triggered by fears of supply disruptions due to the ongoing Middle East conflict.
Brent crude recently climbed above $102 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose to around $101 per barrel.
Industry analysts say the rising oil prices are already having a ripple effect on Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector, forcing depot operators and fuel marketers to adjust their prices in response to the global market trend.
Meanwhile, the management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery has stated that although Nigeria introduced a crude-for-naira arrangement to support local refineries, the facility still purchases crude oil at international market prices, leaving it exposed to global price fluctuations.
The United Nations has raised the alarm over a dramatic surge in attacks on schools worldwide, reporting a 166% increase between 2021 and 2024.
The rise highlights the escalating dangers faced by children in conflict zones.
United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Nada Al-Nashif, revealed the figures during the annual meeting of the UN Human Rights Council on the rights of the child on Monday.
The session, themed “Mainstreaming the Rights of Children in Armed Conflict: Prevention and Protection,” focused on protecting children amid global conflicts.
Al-Nashif noted that the attacks were particularly concentrated in Sudan, Ukraine, the Gaza Strip, Myanmar, and Ethiopia, where children remain among the most vulnerable victims.
“In 2024, armed conflict directly affected nearly one in six children globally—about 470 million children,” she said. “Years of lost education, trauma, and lasting mental scars shape societies for generations. Long after the fighting subsides, children continue to face deadly risks.”
She highlighted Gaza as having the world’s highest number of child amputees per capita, warning that the impact of war goes far beyond immediate violence.
In Lebanon, government figures show that more than 450,000 people were displaced in less than a week, with at least 394 fatalities, including 83 children, during the 2024 conflict with Israel.
Al-Nashif also stressed the disproportionate risks for displaced children, who are more likely to die from disease linked to unsafe water and sanitation than from direct violence.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a 2025 cholera outbreak killed 340 children, underscoring the long-term consequences of conflict.
She called on states to uphold their international obligations to protect children, insisting that protecting children is “both a legal obligation and a humanitarian moral imperative.”
Also speaking at the council, Vanessa Frazier, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, warned that violence against children continued at extreme levels in 2025.
She urged mainstreaming child protection across peace, security, humanitarian, human rights, and development efforts, emphasizing that children should actively participate in shaping policies designed to safeguard them.
Frazier highlighted her office’s global campaign, “Prove It Matters,” aimed at amplifying children’s voices in conflict resolution and peacebuilding.
The UN report underscores the urgent need for coordinated international action to protect children and ensure their safety in conflict zones worldwide.
Portugal officially inaugurated its new president, Antonio Jose Seguro, on Monday, pledging to bring stability to a nation shaken by political uncertainty and natural disasters.
Seguro, the centre-left candidate, won last month’s presidential run-off against far-right rival Andre Ventura, following weeks of catastrophic storms that killed at least seven people and caused approximately €4 billion ($4.6 billion) in damage.
Speaking at his swearing-in ceremony in Lisbon’s parliament, Seguro emphasized cooperation with the minority right-wing government and vowed to end the country’s “electoral frenzy.”
SEE MORE: Spain, Portugal Plunge Into Darkness Amid Widespread Power Outage
“I will do everything I can to put an end to this electoral frenzy,” he said, pointing to the inability of previous governments to complete their terms.
Amid global crises, including conflicts in the Middle East and a more isolationist US approach under President Donald Trump, Seguro stressed the importance of multilateralism.
“The force of law has been replaced by the power of the strongest,” he remarked.
Seguro succeeds Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, a conservative who leaves office at 77 after serving two five-year terms.
While the Portuguese presidency is largely ceremonial, Seguro’s leadership signals a commitment to political stability and international engagement.
Fuel Price Shock: Nigerians May Soon Pay ₦1,500 Per Litre – Marketers Warn
Political Earthquake in Zamfara as Gov Lawal Dumps PDP for APC
Court Pushes Malami, Son’s Terrorism Financing Trial to April 15
African Club Football Gets Major Financial Boost as CAF Hikes Prize Money
Abramovich Clashes with UK Gov’t Over £2.35bn Chelsea Sale Funds
Global Crisis: Attacks on Schools Skyrocket 166% – UN Sounds Alarm on Children’s Safety
Trump’s Family Unveils New Cryptocurrency Platform
Reps Recommend 3-year Jail Term For Aviation minister
Senate Denies Receiving Petitions Against Tinubu’s Ambassadorial Nominees
Dangote Cement Lights Up Benue Host Communities With CSR Initiatives
Things To Know About Threads, Zuckerberg’s Twitter-like App
This design is steller! You certainly know how to
keep a reader amused. Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved
to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Great job. I really loved what you had to say, and more than that, how you presented it.
Too cool!
Touche. Great arguments. Keep up the good spirit.
Excellent website. Plenty of useful info here. I’m sending it to some friends ans additionally sharing in delicious.
And certainly, thank you for your effort!
Hi there to all, how is everything, I think every one is
getting more from this web site, and your views are fastidious in support of new visitors.
I do accept as true with all the ideas you’ve introduced for your post.
They’re really convincing and will certainly work. Still, the posts are very quick for novices.
May you please extend them a little from next time?
Thanks for the post.
Im not that much of a online reader to be honest
but your sites really nice, keep it up! I’ll go ahead and bookmark your website to come back later on. Many thanks
Very good post. I am facing a few of these issues as well..
It is the best time to make some plans for the future and it’s time to
be happy. I’ve read this post and if I could I wish to suggest you few interesting
things or suggestions. Maybe you can write next articles referring to
this article. I desire to read even more things about it!
Heya i am for the first time here. I came across this board and I in finding It truly useful & it helped me
out much. I am hoping to offer something back and help others like you aided me.