The Nigerian Presidency has firmly denied viral claims suggesting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu dismissed key members of his cabinet.
The directive comes in the wake of a widely circulated story online alleging the sack of Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu; Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar; and Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle.
The report, which originated from Phoenix Browser and was titled “BREAKING: Tinubu Sacks Ministers of Defense and Power”, has since been debunked.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, dismissed the claims as entirely false and baseless.
He referenced a disclaimer posted by the pro-Tinubu group, Renewed Hope United Kingdom, on X (formerly Twitter), which described the report as fake and misleading.
Onanuga called on law enforcement to take urgent action against digital platforms and individuals who publish and share unverified stories. “Security agencies must urgently take action against fake news websites and platforms, and the purveyors who fail to check the authenticity of the stories and make them go viral,” he said.
He further emphasized that the unchecked spread of misinformation not only misleads the public but also threatens the integrity of press freedom and undermines responsible journalism.
The Presidency reiterated that no minister has been removed from office, urging the public and media professionals to verify news before dissemination.
The government continues to warn against the dangers of fake news, which it says could destabilize governance and public trust if left unaddressed.
