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2024 was marked by controversies in Nigeria. As the nation geared up for off-cycle gubernatorial elections in some states, the spread of misinformation spiked.
Public officials wield significant influence, and their words and actions often shape public perception and policy. However, even those in positions of power are not immune to making mistakes, sometimes glaring ones. In 2024, several high-profile blunders by public officials made headlines and sparked debates.
This article by DUBAWA highlights six instances where public figures were caught disseminating false information, shedding light on the prevalence of fake news in Nigeria’s political discourse.
- Ireti Kingibe’s claims on her first-year constituency projects in FCT
Ireti Kingibe, senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under the Labour Party, marked her first year in office on June 12, 2024. A few weeks later, she celebrated the occasion by listing legislative motions, bills, and constituency projects she had sponsored within one year in office on her verified X account.
Ireti Kingibe claimed credit for road and infrastructure projects, but investigations revealed that the record was attributed to her predecessor, Philip Aduda, during the 2023 fiscal year. Investigations revealed that while she highlighted completed or ongoing projects, they were facilitated, budgeted, and partially executed during Mr Aduda’s tenure.
- Nuhu Ribadu’s claim about how much oil Nigeria produces per day.
At the Comptroller-General of Customs Conference in Abuja earlier in November, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, asserted that Nigeria now produces about 1.8 million barrels per day.
According to the economy and industry-tracking data platform CEICdata, Nigeria’s crude oil production is 1,324,000 barrels per day as of September 2024, the latest data report on daily oil production. Statista’s latest report on Nigeria’s monthly oil production shows that the country’s oil production is 1,280,000 per day.
- Independence Day speech by Tinubu on ways and means
On Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, Nigeria celebrated 64 years of independence. President Bola Tinubu, during his Independence Day speech, made several claims while highlighting the achievements of his 16-month government. One was the claim that his government had cleared the ways and means of debt over N30 trillion.
Our investigation revealed that In May 2023, the DMO securitised ₦22.7 trillion in Ways and Means, converting it into a 40-year government bond at Buhari’s request.
The FG has a three-year moratorium on principal repayment but will pay a reduced interest rate of 9% per annum, down from 21%. After the grace period, the debt will be repaid over 37 years. Under Buhari’s administration, this debt grew from ₦856 billion to ₦23.7 trillion.
- Tinubu’s speech on debt service ratio per cent
Again, in his independence speech, Mr Tinubu noted that the debt service ratio had been reduced from 97 per cent to 68 per cent.
However, our findings and statistics showed Nigeria’s debt service-to-revenue ratio dropped to 74.3% in Q1 2024, the lowest in five years, compared to 149.5% in Q1 2023, according to the CBN via BusinessDay.
The government spent $2.18 billion (₦3.4 trillion) on debt servicing from January to May 2024, as reported by Punch. However, BusinessDay projects a 110.4% rise in the ratio by year-end due to revenue generation challenges.
- Reno Omokri’s claim on Peter Obi refusing to hold Local Government elections as Anambra Governor
Reno Omokri, a former Nigerian presidential aide, claims that Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of Nigeria’s opposition Labour Party, was among the Nigerian state governors who refused to hold local government elections during his tenure as Governor of Anambra State.
Evidence shows that Mr Obi held local government elections in January 2014, with the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) winning 20 of 21 chairmanship seats. Media reports and video evidence confirm the elections and Obi’s inauguration of the elected chairpersons, thus disproving Reno Omokri’s claim.
- The Senate president’s claim on official time for plenary sessions under David Mark
The Senate president, Godswill Akpabio, said the official time for plenary under former President David Mark’s leadership was 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The senate president spoke when the lawmakers debated a proposal to reschedule their plenary from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Our verdict shows Senate President Godswill Akpabio falsely claimed that the Senate under David Mark held plenary sessions from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., a claim disproven by official records, former senators, aides, journalists, and National Assembly workers. They confirmed plenaries were held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., in line with Senate Standing Rules.
