President Bola Tinubu urging foreign investors to report bribe-seeking government officials to him does not present Nigeria in a good light.

Development Diaries reports that at the recent Nigeria-Qatar Business and Investment Forum in Doha, the Nigerian leader asked Qatari captains of industry to report any Nigerian official who demands any form of bribe before allowing them to do business in the country.

We think this statement is uncalled for, as it is a demarketing of Nigeria in the presence of investors. It seems to us that President Tinubu is following in the footsteps of former President Muhammadu Buhari, who always had something negative to say about Nigeria abroad.

Such remarks can significantly undermine the nation’s reputation on the global stage; they can impact investor confidence, diplomatic relations, and even the perception of Nigerians, both domestically and internationally.

Nigeria relies heavily on foreign investments to drive growth and development across various sectors, so negative statements made by the president can deter potential investors, leading to a decrease in foreign direct investment (FDI) and hindering economic progress.

This is where the Ministry of Information comes in because that ministry plays a crucial role in crafting and disseminating messages that highlight Nigeria’s strengths, achievements, and diplomatic priorities to international audiences.

Like the Ministry of Information, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs serves as a critical pillar in projecting Nigeria’s positive image and advancing its diplomatic agenda during the president’s foreign trips.

We, therefore, expected that both ministries would collaborate with the president’s delegation to ensure that the narratives presented were aligned with the government’s strategic objectives and promoted a favourable image of Nigeria in Doha.

Development Diaries calls on President Tinubu to avoid making statements in foreign settings that could potentially demarketise the country.

We also call on the Ministry of Information and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure property coordination of the president’s communication during foreign trips.

Photo source: Presidency