Nigeria’s Ambassador-designate to Mexico, Mr. Reno Omokri, has sharply countered claims by African Democratic Congress chieftain, Chief Dele Momodu, regarding President Bola Tinubu’s recent state visit to the United Kingdom.
Momodu, via his X account, described Tinubu’s UK visit as lacking substance, comparing it unfavorably to Queen Elizabeth II’s 2003 visit to Nigeria during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) under President Olusegun Obasanjo. He also alleged that Nigeria’s debt had quadrupled since Tinubu assumed office in 2023.
Responding on Monday, Omokri dismissed Momodu’s assertions as “ignorant and misconceived,” stating that the ADC chieftain confused state visits with diplomatic engagements. “You unnecessarily compared the official visit by Queen Elizabeth II to Nigeria in 2003 with the state visit accorded to President Tinubu by King Charles III between 18–19 March 2026,” Omokri said. He emphasized that in diplomatic terms, CHOGMs are classified as “Official Visits,” which rank below the ceremonial and highest diplomatic honour of a state visit.
On the nation’s debt profile, Omokri refuted claims of a quadrupling of debt under Tinubu. “President Tinubu inherited a debt of $113 billion and has reduced it to $103.9 billion,” he said, noting that reports from The Economist and the IMF highlight Nigeria’s strong economic growth and reform-driven recovery. He also urged Nigerians to consult the authoritative Debt Management Office website (dmo.gov.ng) for accurate figures, rather than rely on misleading interpretations of currency conversions.
Omokri further stated that over 90% of Nigeria’s current debt was inherited from previous administrations, and that Tinubu’s government is repaying loans faster than his predecessors, countering what he described as false narratives propagated by Peter Obi and now echoed by Momodu.
This exchange underscores the growing debate over the perception of Tinubu’s foreign engagements and the state of Nigeria’s finances, with Omokri insisting that accurate facts must guide public discourse.
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