Nigeria High Commission in UK Updates Website Following Daily Trust Report

In response to a report by Daily Trust, the Nigeria High Commission in the UK has removed outdated statements from former President Goodluck Jonathan and updated its website to reflect recent changes. As of October 4, 2024, the site was found to feature policy statements from Jonathan’s administration, despite the current leadership under President Bola Tinubu, who has made multiple visits to the UK since taking office in 2023.

Prior to this update, the High Commission’s website still displayed the former national anthem, “Arise O Compatriots,” despite the official change to “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” following the assent to the National Anthem Bill, 2024. However, checks conducted on Friday revealed that the new anthem is now prominently featured on the site.

Additionally, the website has undergone a significant overhaul, with previous content dominated by Jonathan’s policy statements now removed. Sections such as Economy Overview, Labour Market and Unemployment, and Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing, which had not seen updates since the presidency of Olusegun Obasanjo, now display a notice indicating that an “update is in progress.”

Prof. Bola Akinterinwa, a former Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), criticized the outdated information, stating that it reflects poorly on Nigeria’s image internationally. He pointed out that the absence of the current administration’s foreign policies suggests a failure to utilize international relations for economic growth.

Akinterinwa remarked, “Public perception influences international relations. This lack of updated information contributes to Nigeria’s negative portrayal. For instance, former British Prime Minister David Cameron referred to Nigeria as ‘fantastically corrupt,’ and when a country is perceived that way, minor updates like website maintenance fall by the wayside.”

He further emphasized the implications for potential investors, noting that outdated information could lead to poor decision-making. “This presents Nigeria as an analogue country in a world that is increasingly digital and globalized,” he added.

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