June 08, 2023
Nigeria: Checking the BBC's Claims About Buhari's Poor Economic Legacy in Nigeria - and New President Tinubu's Headache
A series of reports published by the BBC in May 2023, during Nigeria's transition, made several claims about the country's economy. We checked some of them. Read more »
May 30, 2023
South Africa: No, Apeel's Edible 'Peel' Won't 'Kill You Slowly' and Is Not Grown On Bill Gates's Farm
IN SHORT: Facebook posts have claimed that produce labelled "Apeel" should not be eaten. But Apeel's plant-based coating is safe and "designed to be consumed". Read more »
Nigeria: No, Influential Former Governor of Rivers State Nyesom Wike Didn't Say Peter Obi Won Nigeria's 2023 Presidential Election
IN SHORT: As the Labour Party's presidential candidate Peter Obi challenges the result of Nigeria's February 2023 election, online claims have been made that he has received… Read more »
Nigeria: No, Nigeria's Food Regulator Has Not Banned Instant Noodles Imports Over Fears They May Cause Cancer
IN SHORT: With Nigeria being a major market for instant noodles, claims that the food has been banned because of cancer fears have been widely shared. But they are inaccurate. Read more »
Nigeria: No Evidence That Nigeria's Electoral Chief's Son Has 'Run Mad', Claims Refuted
IN SHORT: As court challenges to election results are heard across the country, the family of Nigeria's electoral commission chair is among those targeted with unsubstantiated… Read more »
May 26, 2023
Nigeria: No, Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari Has Not Dissolved Federal Executive Council
IN SHORT: Muhammadu Buhari is due to hand over the Nigerian presidency to Bola Tinubu on 29 May 2023, and it was widely expected he would dissolve the federal executive council at… Read more »
Nigeria: No, Nigeria's Ministry of Interior Hasn't Asked Nigerians to Get a Certificate for Enduring President Buhari's Two Terms in Office
IN SHORT: A document is circulating on social media in Nigeria, asking citizens to go to their local government headquarters to get a certificate that they have survived Muhammadu… Read more »
May 24, 2023
Nigeria: No, U.S. Broadcaster CNN Hasn't Projected Peter Obi As Nigeria's President-Elect Instead of Bola Tinubu
IN SHORT: With Bola Tinubu's inauguration as Nigeria's president set for 29 May 2023, misinformation about his election victory continues to circulate on Facebook. One of these… Read more »
May 23, 2023
Nigeria: Photoshopped Image Claims Nigerian Chef Officially Declared Guinness World Record Holder for Cooking Marathon
IN SHORT: Several posts have claimed that chef Hilda Bassey, popularly known as Hilda Baci, has set a new cooking record. However, the image used as evidence is photoshopped - her… Read more »
May 22, 2023
Nigeria: Nigerians, Ignore Fake Registration Advert for Lagos State Internship Programme
IN SHORT: Unemployed young people in Nigeria are being warned not to fall for an advert asking them to register for a Lagos state internship programme. Officials say applications… Read more »
May 16, 2023
Nigeria: No, Nigerian Bank Verification Numbers Won't Expire After 10 Years
A TikTok video circulating on Facebook in Nigeria claims that the bank verification number (BVN) introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) expires after 10 years. Read more »
Nigeria: No, the International Criminal Court Hasn't Ordered Nigeria to Stop Swearing in of President-Elect Bola Tinubu
IN SUMMARY: Bola Tinubu is set to be sworn in as Nigeria's president on 29 May 2023, even as his rivals challenge his election victory. Read more »
Nigeria: No Evidence Us Has Placed Visa Ban On Chair of Nigeria's Electoral Commission, Mahmood Yakubu, Governor Nyesom Wike or Others
IN SHORT: Rumours abound following Nigeria's 2023 general elections and criticism of the way it was conducted. But there's no evidence that a long list of high-profile Nigerians,… Read more »
Nigeria: No, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari Didn't Say His Successor Bola Tinubu Wouldn't Be Sworn in Until He Was Cleared By the Election Tribunal
IN SHORT: With Bola Tinubu set to officially take over as Nigeria's president on 29 May 2023, there are many false claims circulating on social media about his election victory and… Read more »
May 11, 2023
Nigeria: Nigeria's 2023 Election, From the Ballot Box to the Courtroom
The dust has not quite settled on the country's general election, as tribunals set up to resolve disputes over the vote have begun their work. We look at how the petition system… Read more »
Nigeria: Nigerian Govt Disowns Widely Shared 'Inauguration Programme' for New President's Swearing-in
IN SHORT: A programme of activities for the swearing-in of Nigerian president-elect Bola Tinubu has been circulating on social media. Disregard it, officials say. Read more »
May 09, 2023
Nigeria: 4 Questions Answered About the Testing of Instant Noodles By the Nigerian Food and Drug Administration After Asia Scare
Noodles are popular in Nigeria. Read more »
May 08, 2023
Nigeria: Did Nigerian Opposition Leader Peter Obi Visit President-Elect Bola Tinubu? No, Image Is Manipulated
IN SHORT: With Peter Obi challenging Bola Tinubu's presidential election victory in court, a visit to his rival would be newsworthy. But that visit did not happen. Read more »
May 05, 2023
Nigeria: No, Nigerian Postal Service Isn't Recruiting
IN SHORT: A number of posts on social media claim to link to a portal through which Nigeria's postal service is recruiting staff. But the post office has distanced itself from the… Read more »
Nigeria: No, Nigeria's Central Bank Has No Plans to Phase Out Recently Released Naira Notes
Just months after a redesign of Nigeria's currency, posts on Facebook claim the new notes are on their way out. Read more »
May 03, 2023
Nigeria: Did Nigeria's Former Transport Minister Call President-Elect Bola Tinubu a Drug Baron? No, but Debunked Quote Still Circulating
IN SHORT: Former minister and Rivers state governor Chibuike Amaechi has been critical of his party-mate, Nigeria's president-elect Bola Tinubu. But he did not go so far as to… Read more »
April 28, 2023
Nigeria: No, Nigerian Senator Ike Ekweremadu Not 'Serving 10-Year Jail Term' in the UK, Yet to Be Sentenced
IN SHORT: A kidney transplant saga ended with the senator and two co-conspirators convicted. But the three have not yet been sentenced. Read more »
April 27, 2023
Nigeria: 'Blame Peter Obi If I Fail to Become Senate President'? No, Quote Attributed to Nigerian Senator Orji Uzor Kalu Is False
IN SHORT: As Nigerian presidential candidate Peter Obi challenges the 2023 presidential election result in court, the spotlight is on the political race to lead the senate. But a… Read more »
Nigeria: Still No Evidence of UK Government Apology to Nigerian Presidential Candidate Peter Obi Over Heathrow Airport Detention
IN SHORT: An embarrassing incident where leading Nigerian politician Peter Obi was detained in the UK attracted plenty of news coverage. But the UK has not apologised, despite… Read more »
Nigeria: No, Nigeria's Financial Crimes Commission Did Not Arrest Former Minister of Aviation in April 2023
IN SHORT: Despite claims on social media, Nigeria's former minister of aviation hasn't been arrested in 2023 - the rumours hark back to an incident in November 2021. Read more »