ABUJA, Nigeria — The Nigerian Presidency on Sunday, May 25, 2025, firmly denied a viral statement circulating online which falsely claimed that President Bola Tinubu declined an invitation from the White House for a working visit to Washington, D.C., citing aircraft limitations and domestic priorities.
The statement, attributed to the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, was quickly debunked by the adviser himself, who took to his verified X (formerly Twitter) account to issue a “FAKE NEWS ALERT.”
“Disinformation agents, hoax peddlers, fake news propagators, and clickbaiters are at it again,” Onanuga wrote.
“Whoever you are, one day, the law will catch you.”
The fabricated release, styled to resemble an official communiqué from the State House, falsely stated that President Tinubu had opted not to travel to the U.S. due to “critical domestic priorities” and “logistical constraints, including the unsustainability of presidential aircraft for long-distance travel.”
The statement also falsely included diplomatic language about Nigeria’s “commitment to fostering strong bilateral relations with the United States,” and bore Onanuga’s name and official designation as its purported signatory.
Onanuga categorically denied any knowledge or involvement, stating that neither the Nigerian government nor the White House had issued or received such communication.
He emphasized that the document was entirely fictitious and part of a broader pattern of deliberate disinformation.
The Presidency’s swift rebuttal comes amid growing concerns over the proliferation of politically motivated fake news and the use of AI-generated or doctored content to mislead the public.
No official communication has been released by the White House regarding any proposed or declined visit involving President Tinubu.
