The Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Bayo Onanuga, has dismissed as false a viral video alleging that kitchen staff at the Presidential Villa attempted to poison the President.
A video circulating on social media on Sunday claimed that some kitchen workers at the Presidential Villa, also known as Aso Rock, had been arrested over an alleged plot to poison President Tinubu.
Reacting to the development via his verified Facebook page, Onanuga described the claim as fake news and urged Nigerians to disregard it.
He said, “No Aso Rock kitchen staff has been arrested. No Aso Rock kitchen staff attempted to poison President Tinubu. Please ignore this fake news being disseminated through this video.”
The presidential aide’s clarification comes amid growing concerns over the spread of misinformation on social media platforms.
Nigerian authorities have consistently cautioned youths against spreading fake news and misinformation online. Recently, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, urged young Nigerians to cultivate the habit of verifying information before circulating it, warning that the spread of false content poses both moral and national risks.
Speaking in Kaduna at the 20th Joint Ramadan Lecture organized by the Nigerian Television Authority, the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, and Voice of Nigeria, the minister said digital platforms have expanded opportunities for communication, learning, and enterprise but noted that their misuse threatens social cohesion and national unity.
He added, “The digital age presents both innovation and ethical tests. Verifying information has become a civic responsibility, particularly for the youth, who dominate online spaces.”
