The Nigeria High Commission in the United Kingdom has removed statements and policies from the era of former President Goodluck Jonathan from its official website. Jonathan, who left office in 2015 after losing the presidential election to Muhammadu Buhari, had his administration’s policies displayed on the website long after his tenure ended.
Despite Nigeria’s transition from Buhari’s administration to President Bola Tinubu in 2023, and even after the approval of a new national anthem in May 2024, the website continued to feature outdated content. It was only recently, after media reports pointed out the oversight, that the commission began updating its site.
The former anthem, Arise O Compatriots, has now been replaced by the newly approved anthem, Nigeria, We Hail Thee. Furthermore, the site has started to show “update in progress” notices for key sections such as Economy Overview, Labour Market and Unemployment, and Agriculture, which hadn’t been refreshed since Obasanjo’s era.
Dr. Bola Akintehinwa, former Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), expressed frustration over the outdated content, arguing that it tarnished Nigeria’s reputation internationally. He warned that a lack of updated policy information from President Tinubu’s government could hinder opportunities to strengthen global relationships and improve Nigeria’s economy.
“It’s all about perception. When foreign investors see outdated information, it gives the impression of carelessness, making them question the credibility of Nigerian institutions,” Akintehinwa said. He added that the issue reflects poorly on public administration in Nigeria and highlights the country’s struggle to keep up with the demands of a technologically driven world.
