June 23, 2023
Nigeria: Beware of Scammers Impersonating Lottery Platform Zoom Lifestyle On Facebook
IN SHORT: Africa Check has investigated many fake money-making schemes. This Facebook account impersonating popular Nigerian musician Peter Okoye's lottery platform is yet another… Read more »
Nigeria: Nigeria's Corruption Agency Distances Itself From Social Media Posts Advertising Exam 'Past Questions and Answers'
IN SHORT: The ICPC says it has not published any past recruitment exams with answers. The documents circulating online may be aimed at scamming people. Read more »
June 22, 2023
Nigeria: Nigerians Beware, a Fake AIT News Facebook Account Is Out to Scam You!
IN SHORT: Africa Check has exposed several Facebook accounts falsely claiming to offer investment services. This is another one impersonating broadcaster AIT, promising Nigerians… Read more »
Nigeria: No, Police Officer Mohammed Umar Abba Has Not Taken Over As Acting Chair of Nigeria's Financial Crimes Commission After Abdulrasheed Bawa's Suspension in June 2023
IN SHORT: A photo of police officer Mohammed Umar Abba is circulating on social media in Nigeria, with the claim that he has been appointed chair of the EFCC following former chair… Read more »
Nigeria: No Evidence That Nigeria's President Has Ordered All Local Oil Refineries Be Fully Operational Within Six Months
IN SHORT: President Bola Tinubu has made some bold calls since he was sworn in on 29 May 2023. But ordering ailing oil refineries into operation is not one of them. Read more »
Nigeria: No, Video Doesn't Show Dollars Found in Nigeria's Ousted Central Bank Chief's House
IN SHORT: After the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria was not only suspended but arrested, too, rumours have swirled in the country. But this viral video of piles of dollar… Read more »
June 15, 2023
Nigeria: Scam Alert! Ignore Fake BBC News Page in Nigeria Tempting You to Double Your Money On Their Investment Platform
IN SHORT: Africa Check has exposed several Facebook accounts falsely claiming to offer investment services. This is yet another scam account, impersonating BBC News and asking… Read more »
Nigeria: Beware! Guide 'Against Bank Account Hackers' Is Not From Nigeria's Central Bank
IN SHORT: While the country's main bank would want to protect Nigerians from bank account fraud, a guide purporting to be from it is more likely to get the faithful into trouble. Read more »
June 14, 2023
Nigeria: No Evidence Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu Has Suspended State Oil Firm Boss As Claimed Online
IN SHORT: The new leader of the country is setting up his stall, but there is no evidence to suggest that he has removed Mele Kyari from office. Read more »
Nigeria: Nigerian NGO Fails to Support Claims About Country's Corn Output and Its Alleged Medical Use
Is Nigeria the largest producer of corn in Africa? And can corn leaves be used to treat wounds and illnesses such as asthma and bronchitis? We checked four claims by the Health of… Read more »
June 13, 2023
Nigeria: New President Bola Tinubu Appoints 27 Ministers? No, Ignore Circulating List
As the country awaits a new cabinet, lists circulating on social media claim to name those who've made the grade. But it's not to be trusted. Read more »
June 09, 2023
Nigeria: Is Nokia Running a 'Hot' Phone Giveaway to Facebook Users in Nigeria and South Africa? No, Ignore Fake Account
IN SHORT: A Facebook page that claims to be running a phone giveaway by Nokia is a scam and not affiliated to the Nokia brand. The page uses a tactic called engagement bait to… Read more »
June 08, 2023
Nigeria: No, Nigeria's Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu Is Not Dead
IN SHORT: The governor of Nigeria's southwestern Ondo state has been in poor health, but he is alive - despite online claims to the contrary. Read more »
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 »