Viral Misinformation and Presidential Clarification
A weekend report by SaharaReporters alleged that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would visit Washington to hold “high-level talks” with former US President Donald Trump’s Vice, JD Vance.
The claim quickly trended on social media, fuelling speculation about a clandestine meeting.
But the Presidency, through Temitope Ajayi, Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, dismissed the story outright on Monday morning via 𝕏 (Twitter), describing it as “false and mischievous.”
“There is a SaharaReporters story that President Tinubu is going to the US on Tuesday to see US Vice President J.D Vance. That story is not true.
If President Tinubu is going to the White House, he won’t be going to see a Vice President,” Ajayi wrote.
Disinformation, Diplomacy, and Credibility
The rebuttal underscores Abuja’s growing frustration with disinformation networks targeting the Presidency.
Officials at Aso Rock say repeated false narratives—often involving fabricated international trips—risk undermining Nigeria’s diplomatic credibility.
Government sources told IDNN that Tinubu’s upcoming foreign engagements will continue to be announced only through verified official channels, including the State House Press Corps, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Nigeria’s embassies abroad.
“Our engagements are at the presidential level only. Nigeria maintains diplomatic parity with its global partners,” one official clarified.
Guarding the Information Space
Analysts say the swift response from the Presidency reflects a broader digital-credibility strategy—to shut down misinformation before it shapes public perception.
Nigeria’s information environment has become more volatile since 2023, with social media claims now capable of moving markets and triggering diplomatic confusion.
“In this era, speed equals truth for many people. The government must be faster than fake news,” notes media policy expert Dr Olufemi Atoyebi.
Diplomatic Parity, Narrative Control
By asserting that the President meets heads of state and not deputies, the Presidency sent a subtle signal of equal-status diplomacy.
It also reaffirmed its commitment to narrative control in the digital sphere—a growing concern for foreign investors who link misinformation risk to governance stability.
This is IDNN. Independent. Digital. Uncompromising.
