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Claim: A Facebook user claims that NNPC’s Managing Director denies fuel subsidy.
Verdict: Misleading. Although the video of the Managing Director speaking on the absence of fuel subsidy is real, it is from Oct. 2023. Contrary to the claimant’s assertion that the video clip is recent, it is not linked to the recent controversy.
Full Text
Recently, public criticism has been over the federal government’s covert fuel subsidy payment despite President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of subsidy removal on petrol on May 1, 2023.
Amidst these, Facebook user Abdullahi Anrihi posted a video showing the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC), Mele Kyari, debunking the federal government’s funding of fuel subsidies.
“There’s no subsidy whatsoever(.) Disregard fake news(.) – Mele Kyari,” The Facebook user quoted.
As of Friday, Aug. 23, 2024, the post had garnered about five likes, eight comments, and two reposts.
Meanwhile, the same video with similar captions was posted on X (here and here) and Facebook (here and here).
Due to the sensitivity of the claim, DUBAWA decided to ascertain the authenticity of the video shared.
Verification
We conducted a Google Reverse Image search on some keyframes of the video clip and found a complete YouTube video by Channels posted on Oct. 9, 2023. In the Channels’ post, Mr Kyari told news outlets that there is no fuel subsidy.
DUBAWA carried out a keyword search for news reports on the Managing Director’s assertion of non-payment of fuel subsidy in 2023. On Oct. 9, 2023, Premium Times reported that Mr Kyari, after a meeting with President Tinubu, informed state house correspondents that the federal government had not resumed the payment of any subsidy.
We also found similar reports on Arise News and Vanguard from the same date (on Oct. 9. 2023).
Conclusion
The video clip used by the claimant to suggest the Managing Director stated the non-existence of fuel subsidy is not as recent as impressed by the claimant. Reports from credible news outlets show that the event happened in Oct. 2023.
