Seyi Tinubu. Source: Punch Newspaper.
|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Claim: Social media users claim Seyi Tinubu was caught sharing hoarded COVID-19 palliatives in 2026.
Verdict: False! The picture was first uploaded online in 2020. However, on the first day of Ramadan 2026, it was reshared by an Instagram blog in Seyi’s name, highlighting the latter’s humanitarian efforts during the fasting season. Noella Foundation, co-founded by Seyi and his wife, provided the palliatives.
Full Text
Preparations are in top gear for the next Nigerian general election following the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s release of the election timetable.
INEC fixed Feb. 20 2027, for Presidential and National Assembly elections and March 6, 2027, for Governorship and State Assembly Elections.
Conversations regarding candidacy, electronic transmission of election results in real time, and youth participation in politics have become so rife on social and traditional media in the country.
Amid these, some pictures have been circulating on social media showing President Bola Tinubu’s son, Seyi Tinubu, with boxes of relief material. On the boxes, the words “END #COVID 19” were highlighted, suggesting they are COVID-19 palliatives.
Social media users have since stated that Seyi hoarded the palliatives meant to be shared 6 years ago, and is sharing them in 2026 as Ramadan goodies. Some users accused the President’s family of being callous, noting that the food might have expired.
Comments and reactions online show that many Nigerians believe these pictures, which have since gone viral.
This user, Yohanna Mapaqson Joshua, wrote, “Very wicked people.”
Another user, Olu Awolowo, wrote, “Progress Thieves,” while Oluwamuyiwa Olarewaju Ajileye took a swipe at the political party of the president, stating, “Anyone who votes in APC in 2027 is an enemy of the country.”
Due to the sensitivity of the matter and the public outrage that followed the information, DUBAWA decided to conduct this fact-check.
Verification
DUBAWA looked closely at the cartons and, truly, ‘End COVID-19’ was written on them, pointing to some poverty alleviation efforts that might have been carried out during the heat of the pandemic in 2020.
We also noticed that Noella Foundation was written on the pack, so we looked it up. Noella Foundation is a non-governmental not-for-profit organisation co-founded by Seyi and his wife, Layla, in 2018.
According to the mission statement on its website, Noella was established to reach out to the vulnerable and provide a lasting solution. It further listed hunger eradication as one of its core areas of focus. Other areas include healthcare, education, and employability.
Part of the foundation’s outreach in April 2020 was posted on its Instagram handle, and some of the pictures, which showed Seyi mostly in black shirts with nose masks (the same outfit in the viral Pictures). The viral picture was
Most likely taken from those posts. However, it is important to note that these pictures were not captured recently as claimed.
The confusion might have arisen from a recent blog post by @Seyitinubunews, which
highlights Seyi’s contributions to society during fasting periods. Although this user shared pictures from 2020, they were not presented as recent.
The post caption noted that over the last five years, Seyi, with the Noella Foundation, has had to distribute food boxes containing staple items to communities.
The caption of the post by Seyitinubunews read, “@seyitinubu through the @noella.foundation, has been providing food relief to people fasting, extending support to individuals and families across several communities. His efforts were aimed at ensuring that people observing fasting have access to essential food supplies.”
Conclusion
The claim that Seyi Tinubu hoarded COVID-19 palliatives and is now sharing them is false. The pictures used were reshared from his foundation’s 2020 posts about its humanitarian outreach.
