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Altered photo falsely shows Tinubu attending 81st UN General Assembly

Nurudeen Akewushola
Nurudeen Akewushola
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Screenshot of the viral post

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A MANIPULATED photograph of Nigerian president Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the podium of the United Nations General Assembly has surfaced on social media, with a caption suggesting that the Nigerian president is attending the ongoing 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

The photograph was shared on Facebook by Ernest Omoarelojie with the caption:

“I still dey clean my eyes since on behalf of NkwObi and his headless horde of Obidiots. Biko, who dey dis pishor so? Na for Onitsha market dem take di foto?”

The post had generated about 190 reactions, 741 comments and 39 shares as of the time of filing this report.

CLAIM

Photo shows president Bola Ahmed Tinubu attending the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Screenshot of the viral post

FINDINGS

Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the photograph has been altered.

The photograph circulating online has been edited to give the impression that Tinubu is currently attending the 81st UN General Assembly, with an “81st General Assembly” graphic incorporated into the image.

However, the photograph does not represent Tinubu’s attendance at the ongoing 81st UNGA.

Records from the United Nations show that Tinubu’s last attendance at the UN General Assembly was in September 2023, when he participated in the 78th session.

The UN Web TV archive records Tinubu delivering Nigeria’s national statement during the General Debate of the 78th session on September 19, 2023.

The UN Digital Library also records Tinubu as Nigeria’s speaker at the 78th session on 19 September 2023.

The state house also reported that Tinubu addressed the 78th UNGA in New York on 19 September 2023.

However, the president did not attend the 79th UNGA in 2024 or the 80th UNGA in 2025. According to Premium Times, vice president Kashim Shettima represented him at both sessions.

The situation is the same for the 81st UNGA in 2026.

On 20 September 2026, the presidency announced that Tinubu had mandated Shettima to represent him and lead Nigeria’s delegation to the 81st session in New York.

The announcement was reported by Channels Television and Premium Times.

Shettima subsequently arrived in New York on 21 September to represent Tinubu at the session. Premium Times reported that he would deliver Nigeria’s national statement and participate in high-level and bilateral engagements during the UNGA.

The presidency also confirmed that Tinubu was on annual leave and would not personally attend the 81st UNGA. The state house said that Shettima, who had travelled to New York for the gathering, would represent the president and present Nigeria’s national statement.

Therefore, although Tinubu has attended the UN General Assembly before, his last attendance was at the 78th session in 2023. He did not attend the 79th and 80th sessions, and he is also not attending the 81st session in 2026.

The manipulated photograph consequently creates a false impression of Tinubu’s presence at this year’s UNGA.

VERDICT

The claim that the photograph shows Nigerian president Bola Ahmed Tinubu attending the 81st United Nations General Assembly is FALSE. Tinubu last attended the UNGA in 2023, during the 78th session. He did not attend the 79th and 80th sessions, and vice president Kashim Shettima is representing him at the 81st UNGA in 2026.

 

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Nurudeen Akewushola is a fact-checker with FactCheckHub. He has authored several fact checks which have contributed to the fight against information disorder. You can reach him via nyahaya@icirnigeria.org and @NurudeenAkewus1 via Twitter.

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