The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the Nigerian government for failing to issue an official statement following the U.S. military operation in Venezuela that captured President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
The party described Nigeria’s silence as “embarrassing” and inconsistent with its status as a leading African nation.
ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, told Channels Television that Nigeria has lost its voice on the international stage under the current administration.
He noted that several West African countries have expressed positions on the Venezuela crisis, but Nigeria has remained conspicuously silent.
“This is a defining moment in international politics, with serious implications for the global order. Nigeria, which has historically taken principled stances on major issues, is nowhere to be found,” Abdullahi said.
He also questioned President Bola Tinubu’s silence and linked it to earlier security decisions, including inviting foreign military forces to conduct operations in Nigeria in December 2025.
Abdullahi suggested the government’s lack of self-confidence may explain its failure to comment.
US Military Operation in Venezuela
On January 3, 2026, the United States launched Operation Absolute Resolve, capturing Maduro and Flores in a coordinated air and ground raid across Venezuelan states including Caracas, Miranda, La Guaira, and Aragua.
Both were later indicted in New York on charges including narco-terrorism and drug trafficking, with Maduro pleading not guilty.
The operation has faced international criticism, with the UN, China, Russia, Mexico, and Spain condemning it as a violation of Venezuelan sovereignty and international law.
Nigeria has yet to make an official response.
Abdullahi concluded that the Nigerian government’s silence diminishes the country’s standing and is “not befitting of a country that should be a leader on the African continent.”
