The Nigerian Presidency has debunked a viral document claiming that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu turned down a working visit invitation from the White House, describing the release as fake, malicious, and entirely fabricated.
The clarification was issued on Sunday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, who denounced the statement through his official X (formerly Twitter) handle.
The controversial document, which had been widely shared on social media and some blogs, was disguised as an official statement from the State House. It falsely claimed that President Tinubu had rejected an invitation from the U.S. government due to “critical domestic priorities” and “logistical constraints, including the unsustainability of presidential aircraft for long-distance travel.”
The statement was falsely attributed to Onanuga, who was listed as the signatory, using his full title and State House credentials. However, Onanuga quickly distanced himself from the document, stating that neither he nor the Presidency issued any such communication.
He labelled the creators and sharers of the forged statement as “disinformation agents, hoax peddlers, fake news propagators, and clickbaiters,” and warned that they would eventually face the law. “Whoever you are, one day, the law will catch you,” Onanuga said in a strongly worded post. He also shared the fake statement with a bold “FAKE NEWS ALERT” stamped across it to warn the public.
The Special Adviser stressed that there was no official correspondence from either the White House or the Nigerian government regarding such a diplomatic rejection. “There is no such invitation from the White House that was turned down, and no such statement was ever made,” Onanuga said.
He further clarified that President Tinubu remains committed to strengthening diplomatic ties with global partners, including the United States. “President Tinubu’s foreign policy strategy has always emphasized strong international collaboration and mutual respect,” he added.
The fake statement also attempted to soften its false claims by saying the Nigerian government “remains committed to fostering strong bilateral relations with the United States and looks forward to future opportunities for collaboration.” Despite this diplomatic tone, the Presidency said the entire content was fabricated.
This is not the first time the Presidency has had to address false information circulating online. In recent months, several forged documents and misleading statements have appeared on social media platforms, often targeting top government officials or sensitive national matters.
The government has repeatedly warned against the spread of fake news and disinformation, which it says poses a threat to national unity and public trust. Authorities have also hinted at stricter enforcement of cybercrime and defamation laws to hold online offenders accountable.
As Nigeria continues to navigate complex domestic and international issues, the Presidency urged citizens to verify information through official sources and avoid spreading unconfirmed or misleading reports.
