Please note that the FactCheckHub has not obtained any right from the authors or copyright owners of all third-party contents from embedded links and shall incur no liability in this regard.
Please note that the FactCheckHub has not obtained any right from the authors or copyright owners of all third-party contents from embedded links and shall incur no liability in this regard.
Please note that the FactCheckHub has not obtained any right from the authors or copyright owners of all third-party contents from embedded links and shall incur no liability in this regard.
Please note that the FactCheckHub has not obtained any right from the authors or copyright owners of all third-party contents from embedded links and shall incur no liability in this regard.
A NIGERIAN broadcast journalist, Oseni Rufai, on Sunday, January 30, 2022 claimed that there are over 136 refineries in the United States of America, adding that none is owned by the government.
Rufai made this claim while advocating for the need to privatise or rehabilitate the refineries in Nigeria.
He claimed further that Texas, a state in the South Central region of the United States alone has 47 refineries.
“47 refineries in Texas over 136 refineries in America the government owns none. Let’s have a conversation on our refineries to privatize or rehabilitate,” his tweet reads.
From the tweet, the following claims were established:
CLAIM 1: ‘Over 136 refineries are in the U.S and none is owned by the government”
Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is HALF TRUE.
Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reveal that the country has 129 refineries, as of January 1, 2022.
The EIA is a body that collects, analyses, and disseminates independent and impartial energy information in the United States.
It stated further that 124 refineries are currently operating in the US, while 5 are idle.
The EIA also revealed the ownership of the refineries, which shows that they are all owned by private industries.
THE VERDICT
The claim is HALF TRUE. While none of the refineries in the United States is owned by the government, available data revealed that the country currently has 129 refineries and not 136.
CLAIM 2: ‘47 refineries are in Texas’
Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is FALSE.
Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) show that there are 31 refineries in Texas, as of January 1, 2022.
The EIA data show that 30 refineries are currently operating in Texas while one is idle.
AHEAD of the All Progressives Congress (APC) convention slated for February 26, 2022, a photo of a truck that fell and spilt the brooms it was conveying on the road has circulated online.
According to the caption on the photo which was retrieved on WhatsApp on Monday, February 7, 2022, the truck was said to be conveying brooms meant for the forthcoming APC convention.
“A truck carrying Broom to Abuja ahead of APC National Convention got accident. Pray for APC,” the caption reads.
The post was also shared widely by a Facebook user Diran Onifade, as archived here.
Another online user on Wednesday also posted the same image on a popular Nigerian blog, Nairaland, as archived here.
THE CLAIM
A truck carrying brooms to Abuja ahead of the APC National Convention had an accident.
THE FINDINGS
Checks by The FactCheckHub show that the image has been on the internet since 2018.
A Google Reverse Image Search on the image shows that the image first appeared on the internet on November 17, 2018, when it was posted on a Facebook page, Hope for Nigeria, as archived here.
According to the caption then, the image was said to be of a trailer carrying brooms meant for APC political campaign, which had an accident along the Lokoja-Abuja expressway.
It was also posted on Nairaland on November 18, 2018, as archived here.
THE VERDICT
The claim that a truck carrying brooms to Abuja ahead of the APC National Convention had an accident is FALSE; the photo has been on the internet since 2018 and is not recent.
THE NIGERIAN Senate lied in its claim that it was not aware of a petition against the nomination of an alleged card-carrying member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a national commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), checks by The ICIR have revealed.
Rhoda Gumus, who President Muhammadu Buhari nominated as INEC national commissioner (South-South), was confirmed by the Senate on February 2, 2022 despite protests by Nigerians over reports that she is a card-carrying APC member.
Gumus is alleged to be a member of the APC in Bayelsa State with APC Registration Form No: BAY/YEN/08/58315.
She, reportedly, was number 27 in her APC Ward Register.
Rhoda Gumus alleged APC card.
A civil society organisation, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), filed a petition against Gumus’ confirmation as INEC national commissioner.
The petition was titled ‘Petition against the confirmation of Prof. Rhoda H. Gumus’ nomination as national electoral commissioner for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the basis of political membership.’
The petition was dated January 26, 2022, and addressed to Senate President Ahmed Lawan.
An acknowledgement copy of the petition was received by the Senate President’s office on January 26, 2022.
Copies of the petition were also addressed to Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege and Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila.
The Senate said it was not aware of the petition against the confirmation of Gumus’ nomination when the upper legislative chamber confirmed her on February 2.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on INEC Kabir Gaya said a petition was only received against another nominee – A. B. Alkali, from Taraba State.
Gaya claimed that after the committee had already submitted its report, it started hearing about Gumus’ links to the APC ‘through the media.’
The Findings
But, contrary to the explanation, checks by The ICIR revealed that the Senate actually received HURIWA’s petition against the confirmation of Gumus’ nomination.
An acknowledgement copy of the petition was received by the Deputy Senate President’s office on January 26, 2022.
Acknowledgement copies seen by The ICIR show that the Senate received the petition on January 26, 2022.
On one of the copies, the stamp of the Office of the Senate President indicating ‘RECEIVED’ was signed by an official, and dated January 26, 2022, in acknowledgement of the receipt of the petition on the date.
The copies addressed to the Deputy Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives were also stamped and signed to acknowledge receipt of the petition by the two offices on the same day – January 26, 2022.
An acknowledgement copy of the petition was received by the Speaker’s office on January 26, 2022.
The acknowledgement of the receipt of the petition suggests that the Senate deliberately ignored the petition against Gumus’ nomination as INEC national commissioner.
In the petition signed by National Coordinator Emmanuel Omwubiko, HURIWA informed the Senate that it had uncovered material evidence revealing that Gumus was an alleged card-carrying member of the APC.
The said material evidence was attached.
Urging the Senate not to confirm Gumus, the petition said her confirmation would amount to a violation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, particularly provisions of Section 14(2a) of the Third Schedule, which states that “a member of the Commission shall be non-partisan and a person of unquestionable integrity.”
“Confirming the nomination of Rhoda Gumus as a national electoral commissioner for the Independent National Electoral Commission would constitute a direct violence against the relevant laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the independence of INEC, the Senate is hereby called upon to reject this nomination.”
But the Senate ignored the petition and went ahead to confirm Gumus’ nomination as INEC national commissioner.
APC whistleblower leaked Gumus’ party membership details
Speaking with The ICIR on February 8, Onwubiko disclosed that an APC member leaked the information concerning Gumus’ membership of the party.
The APC member wished to remain anonymous, Onwubiko explained when asked the whistleblower’s identity.
“The party member was not happy that the electoral process is being undermined with the nomination of a card-carrying member of a political party as a national commissioner of INEC. That was how the information came out; otherwise, Nigerians would have been in the dark.”
Buhari’s earlier attempt to appoint his aide Lauretta Onochie as an INEC national commissioner failed after it was discovered that she was a card-carrying member of the APC.
Sustained pressure and protests from Nigerians forced Buhari to withdraw Onochie’s nomination.
PDP asks Buhari to reverse Gumus’ appointment as INEC national commissioner
The opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has kicked against Gumus’ confirmation by the Senate, describing the development as a coup against democracy.
The PDP alleged that Gumus’ nomination by Buhari and subsequent confirmation by the APC-led Senate was designed to corrupt and compromise INEC and pave the way for the APC to rig the 2023 general elections.
“Prof. Gumus must not be allowed to be used to pollute INEC. Her mission is already exposed, and our party is ready to mobilise our members and all patriotic Nigerians across the country by taking legitimate actions to protect the integrity of the electoral body,” PDP said in a statement released by its spokesman Debo Ologunagba on February 7.
PDP warned Gumus to steer clear of INEC “as there is no way she can function in that office as a card-carrying member of the APC.”
The PDP observed that Gumus’ position as an INEC national commissioner would raise questions over the integrity of the electoral process.
“Her entry and continuing stay in INEC will be toxic and taint the Commission with bias and manipulations ahead of the 2023 elections since her appointment and confirmation is unconstitutional.”
The party asked Buhari to withdraw Gumus’ appointment as an INEC national commissioner.
The opposition party said that the reversal of Gumus’ appointment would assure Nigerians that Buhari was indeed committed to free, fair, transparent and credible elections in 2023.
AN IMAGE showing Nigerian artistes Peter and Paul Okoye, popularly called P-Square, dressed in sweatshirts with colours of the Biafran flag has been shared multiple times on social media alongside a claim that the artistes wore the outfits in support of a Biafran movement.
The image was posted on a Facebook page, Biafra Today News, on January 29, 2022 (as archived here) with a caption: “The restoration of Biafra is non-negotiable. We keep moving!”
The image was also posted on another Facebook page, Marlians TV, alongside a caption calling for the artistes to be arrested, as archived here.
“Nigerian government supposed to Lock this guy’s up the same way Kalu is been locked up… They are distracting the peace of this country by promoting a terrorist organization call Biafra (sic),” the caption reads in part.
A Twitter user with the username: @adaelowhite1 also tweeted the image, as archived here.
CLAIM
The image shows Peter and Paul Okoye wearing outfits with Biafran colours.
THE FINDINGS
Findings by the FactCheckHub show that the image has been manipulated.
A Google Reverse Image Search of the photo shows the original image which was posted on the official Facebook page of the duo on the 27th of November, 2021.
The image shows the duo wearing plain light grey sweatshirts and blue jeans trousers and not in Biafran colours as depicted in the doctored image.
The colours of the Biafran flag, used by the Biafran Republic during The Nigerian Civil War of 1967- 1970, consists of a horizontal tricolour of red, black, and green, charged with a golden rising sun over a golden bar.
A metadata analysis of the doctored image using Fotoforensic — a digital tool used in analysing images — shows that the image has been altered using the Photoshop application.
Similarly, an Error Level Analysis (ELA) of the photo shows colour incoherence on the doctored portion of the image as shown here.
The FactCheckHub reports that this is not the first time the Facebook page, Biafra Today News, is publishing doctored images of celebrities and other notable individuals, especially of Southeast Nigeria origin to promote the Biafran cause.
Earlier on January 10, 2022, a doctored image of Michael Collins Ajereh, a Nigerian music producer popularly called Don Jazzy, in Biafra-coloured outfit was posted on the same page, as archived here.
The Africa Check had earlier in December 2021 also fact-checked a similar image of Chinedu Okoli, popularly known as Flavour, posted online by another Biafran movement.
A graphics design expert, Ali Geidam, also confirmed to the FactCheckHub that the image of P-Square was manipulated using a photo editing tool.
“There are 10 ways to achieve such manipulation using various software. There are designers with specialities in photo editing/manipulation for good reasons. They do it for promotions, movies etc.
“But nowadays, some do it with negative intentions. Technical step-by-step on how to create such manipulation is a long and tricky process in order to achieve a realistic result. To explain these technicalities can be difficult especially if you don’t do it every day, ” he said.
THE VERDICT
The image of P-Square wearing outfits with Biafran colours is manipulated; thus making the claim FALSE.
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, in a viral video, claimed that the current Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expired.
The APC chieftain made the claim while addressing the women leaders of the party who paid him a visit in Abuja.
He urged them to obtain new PVCs.
“In case they do not announce to you on time, the PVC you have has expired.
“Take one family member, two family members, knock on all doors and make sure that the new registration… Because they may not announce to you on time. The PVCs you have, has expired. Yes!” he said.
What is PVC?
A Permanent Voters Card (PVC) is a smart electronic card that stores information such as biometric data (physical attributes and thumbprint) and is needed for voting during elections in Nigeria.
The PVCs are electronically programmed and can only be read or assessed with a card reader.
According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PVC enables registered voters to exercise their civic right to vote in the General Elections.
A Temporary Voter’s Card is given to people upon registration. This, the registrant will present to collect the PVC.
A look at the PVC shows that it has no expiry date. It instead contains information of a voter like; polling unit, voters identification number, passport, local government area, gender, date of birth, occupation and address of the voter.
PVC doesn’t expire ―INEC
In reaction to the claim, the Chief Technical Adviser to the Chairman of INEC, Prof Bolade Eyinla, stated that PVCs previously registered remain valid.
“This information is not correct. The PVC issued to all previously registered voters remains valid. This kind of statement will certainly push eligible voters to register more than once, thereby creating the problem of double and multiple registrations.”
Eyinla urged those who already have PVCs not to bother about registering for another one.
The INEC Spokesperson Festus Okoye also faulted the claim, saying the PVCs issued to Nigerians by the commission were still valid.
Tinubu admits claim is misleading
Meanwhile, Tinubu’s media team has admitted that his claim was misleading.
The team, in a statement, stated that the APC chieftain mistakenly used the word ‘expire’ instead of saying that the PVCs may have to be updated.
“On Tuesday night in Abuja, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu granted audience to a delegation of women from Lagos and across the country attending the All Progressives Congress Women Conference. While charging the women to check the status of their voting cards and mobilise supporters to vote, he mistakenly used the word ‘expire’ instead of stating that the cards may have to be updated.
“Immediately upon being apprised of this, Asiwaju apologised for the incorrect statement and felt sorry for any confusion it may have caused. Asiwaju Tinubu also stressed that he appreciates the patriotic and necessary work of INEC and its personnel in assuring a free and fair electoral process for all Nigerians in all political parties,” the statement read in part.
A circular alleged to be from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has been shared multiple times online, claiming it is the timetable for mobilising graduates for the 2022 Batch A orientation course.
The NYSC is a compulsory one-year programme set up by the Nigerian government to involve graduates in nation-building and development. New graduates are mobilised in batches and posted to different states for their primary assignment. The programme starts with a few weeks of orientation course in designated camps spread across the nation.
The viral circular titled ‘2022 Batch A stream 1 orientation course’ contains dates for the commencement of registration, swearing-in and closing of camp for the said Batch.
The circular was circulated on several Facebook pages and WhatsApp groups as archived here and here.
THE CLAIM
The circular shows the 2022 schedule for mobilising Batch A stream I of the National Youth Service Corps.
The circular shared in a WhatsApp group and on Facebook.The circular shared on Facebook.
THE FINDINGS
Checks by the FactCheckHub show that the memorandum is fake as it did not emanate from the NYSC.
The circular was not found on any of the NYSC social media handles that they employ in information dissemination.
“This is not from NYSC. Disregard it,” the agency replied to an enquiry concerning the memo via the comment section of the official Facebook page.
NYSC responds to enquiry, says the circular should be disregarded.
This is not the first time a false circular was circulated online. In November 2021, the NYSC had to debunk a fake memo in circulation that was announcing mobilisation.
THE VERDICT
The circular in circulation did not emanate from the NYSC. Therefore, it is FALSE.
A photo of filled bags stacked as pyramids supported by a wooden scaffold has been shared multiple times online, claiming it is the rice pyramid unveiled in Abuja in January 2022.
The image surfaced online a few days ahead of the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) and other stakeholders to showcase a pyramid made up of stacked bags of rice paddy reminiscent of the groundnut pyramid found in Northern Nigeria in the past.
The pyramid was reported to have been built with 1 million bags of rice paddy planted and harvested from states across the country under the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP).
The report generated reactions with many insinuations of foul play, as can be seen in these archived posts here and here.
THE CLAIM
The image shows a rice pyramid unveiled in Abuja in January 2022.
A screenshot of the image of the pyramid circulated online,
THE FINDINGS
Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is false.
A reverse image search conducted by The FactCheckHub shows that the image has been online as far back as 2018.
The image trended in 2018 during the launch of a local rice brand in Ogun state tagged “Mission to Rebuild Ogun State” (MITROS).
TO curb the spread of misinformation on the internet, YouTube has joined other platforms such as Google and Facebook to collaborate with fact-checkers using information panels.
These panels, launched in Brazil and India in 2019, inform the public if claims related to searches are true, false, or “partly true,” according to the publisher’s fact-check verdict.
Although information panels are only available in a limited number of countries and languages, YouTube says it is working to it to more countries.
A few years after it launched the information panel, a consortium of fact-checkers worldwide has come out to demand more effective action against misinformation from the video hosting platform.
They also pointed out how the platform has been used to amplify hate speech against vulnerable groups, reaching tens of thousands of users. This is in addition to it being a fertile ground for election disinformation.
The Fact-checkers proposed solutions which include: a commitment to meaningful transparency about disinformation on the platform; providing context and offering debunks, clearly superimposed on videos or as additional video content; Acting against repeat offenders that produce content that is constantly flagged as disinformation and misinformation, Extending current and future efforts against disinformation and misinformation in languages different from English and so on.
How the Information panel work
Authoritative publishers and publishers who are verified signatories of the International Fact-Checking Network’s Code of Principles are eligible to have their fact-checks published by YouTube.
The fact-checks will be displayed on the information panel marked as an “independent fact-check” with:
The name of the publisher doing the fact-check
The claim being fact-checked
A snippet of the publisher’s fact-check finding
A link to the publisher’s article to learn more
Info about the publication date of the fact check article
Fact checks shown in information panels will not be endorsed or created by YouTube.
However, YouTube allows the public to send feedback on fact check that violates its community guidelines.
Several social media users and blogs have circulated a photo of a man on a hospital bed claiming he is a pastor who was beaten up by his congregation for asking for money to unlock the 2022 New Year’s blessing.
Blogs claim the photo shows a Kenyan pastor, James Mungo hospitalised after asking for Ksh4200 (N16,000) from members to unlock their 2022 blessings.
Similar posts with the image were shared here on Twitter and here on Facebook and some Nigerian blogs, as can be seen here.
THE CLAIM:
The photo shows a pastor who demanded money to unlock 2022 blessings hospitalised due to being beaten by church members.
Screenshots of some of the posts on social media.
THE FINDINGS:
Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is false.
The photo is an old photo that has been on the internet since 2017.
A Google reverse image check showed that the image is of a now-deceased Nollywood actor, Adeshina Adesanya, known as Pastor Ajidara, who was reportedto have died in 2017.
A colleague of the deceased, Adebayo Amusan, known as Mr Latin, shared the image on his Instagram handle in May 2017, as seen here after his death.
THE VERDICT:
The claim that the photo shows a pastor who demanded money to unlock 2022 blessings hospitalised due to being beaten by church members is FALSE.
The photo is unrelated to the incident. The image has been online since 2017. Therefore it could not have been from an incident touted to have taken place on the eve of 2022.
JOURNALISTS fall into one of the seven categories eligible for Twitter’s verification.
“The blue verified badge on Twitter lets people know that an account of public interest is authentic. To receive the blue badge, your account must be authentic, notable, and active,” says Twitter.
The verification badge is not necessarily earned by follower count. Journalists with less than 200 followers (as seen in the profile archived here) have been verified by Twitter.
This is not to say accounts don’t get verified due to follower or mention count.
“If your account is detected to be in the top .05 per cent follower or mention count for your geographic location, it may count towards notability evidence for certain categories,” says Twitter.
For journalists who have at least three stories published by verified news media within the past six months, all you need to do is prove your identity to Twitter by carefully following the steps below.
You will need:
An active account that directly reference your employer’s official URL or handle in your bio. Your employer should have a verified account.
In addition, links to three articles with your byline published by a verified medium within the past six months and a valid government-issued ID.
Official websites or news articles published by verified organisations referencing your Twitter handle or registered email address to use to authenticate your account.
The steps I followed to get my account verified:
1.
Have an active Twitter account that adheres to Twitter rules: You must have a profile name, a recognizable profile image, and your account must have a confirmed email address or phone number. You must have logged into the account in the last six months.
2.
Link your verified Muck Rack profile to your Twitter: This helps to show articles published under your name. It is, however, not mandated.
3.
Log into your Twitter account, click “Settings and privacy” under your profile.
Screenshot from Twitter
3.
Under Settings, click “Your account”.
4.
Under your account, click “Account Information“.
5.
When your account information is displayed, click “Verification request“. It will take you to a prompt page with “Start Verification”.
7.
Select the “News organisation or journalist” category.
Screenshot from Twitter
8.
Select the account type that best suits you as a journalist.
Screenshot from Twitter.
9.
Confirm the eligibility of your news organisation by entering the Twitter handle.
10.
Click “Yes, it’s complete” if your profile meets the criteria for a journalist (make sure your Twitter bio references the verified organisation you work for).
11.
Add reference of employment: Provide a link that references you as a journalist. The reference must come from the official site of a verified news organisation and also add a link to your author page with a bio that references you as a journalist and has a photo of you and it should also have your Twitter handle too.
Screenshot from Twitter.
12.
Review and Submit: Carefully review the provided information, as errors may impact the verification outcome.
13.
You will be VERIFIED within 24 hours if you meet all the requirements.
