Intensifying the fight against misinformation in Nigeria and Africa at large, DUBAWA’s fact-checks last week covered Vladimir Putin’s purported comment about the Ajaokuta Steel company, the new tax laws in Nigeria, and the Liberian government’s alleged cancellation of free WAEC policy for 12th graders, among other topics.
The claims checked last week had elements of Artificial Intelligence, underscoring the importance of media and information literacy for citizens across borders.
Here are some of the fact checks we worked on:
- Putin’s alleged comment on Nigeria’s electricity infrastructure AI-generated
A Facebook user claimed Vladimir Putin commented on the current state of the Ajaokuta Steel Company in Nigeria and how the country had refused the Soviet Union’s help in 1980.
Putin allegedly further accused Western countries of interfering in the project and that Nigeria still bears the loss. But when DUBAWA investigated the claim, no such report appeared in any credible media outlet or on the official Kremlin website.
Also, an analysis showed that the speech may have been generated using Artificial Intelligence. Read more here.
- Nigeria’s 2025 tax reform does not target all citizens as claimed
In June 2025, President Bola Tinubu signed four tax bills into law, and since then, there have been many conversations online and offline about taxation in Nigeria.
Recently, a Facebook user shared a video claiming that all Nigerians, regardless of their income, will be required to pay compulsory taxes starting Jan. 1, 2026.
But when DUBAWA fact-checked the claim, we saw that the Nigeria Tax Act (NTA) 2025 introduced a progressive personal income tax regime with revised income brackets and rates to relieve low-income earners. More information here.
- Liberia’s government did not cancel its free WAEC policy for 12th graders
A Facebook user claimed the government of Liberia has cancelled the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) fees for 12th graders in the country.
However, when DUBAWA contacted the WAEC Liberia boss, Dale Gbotoe, and the country’s Ministry of Education director of communication, Maxime Bletahn, they debunked this report. Find more information here.
- Photo of Namibian actor passed off as Nnamdi Kanu’s son, who allegedly won an award in the UK
Popular musician, Charly Boy, shared a photo of a young man holding a plaque and claimed he was the son of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). He claimed the boy had just won an award in various subjects in the United Kingdom.
However, a reverse image search revealed that the young man is Alejandro Cooper, a Namibian child actor who was recognised as the best child African actor at the Sotigui Awards held in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, in November 2024.
The claim is a recurring one, albeit with a different image. Read more here.
- Education in Nigerian government schools, not entirely free
A user recently claimed that education at all levels in Nigeria is free, especially for those attending public schools.
DUBAWA’s research showed that the Federal government had once informed Nigerians that Federal Universities were tuition-free, though these universities still have other compulsory charges for students.
The report established that while the entire cost of education may have been subsidised for those who attend public schools, students across all levels are still charged fees for other services. Failure to pay these fees may result in termination of their education. Read more here.
- Old video recirculated to show Gambian police officer slapping a man
A popular Gambian blog shared CCTV footage showing a police officer slapping a young man. This came at a time when four police officers were arrested for allegedly beating someone to death on Sept. 27, 2025, in Mandinary, a community in the West Coast Region.
The video sparked debate on social media, highlighting police brutality and the dehumanisation of citizens by the police in the country.
An analysis of the video showed that the incident took place in 2024, and the Gambian police noted in a statement that the issue has been dealt with accordingly. More information can be found here.