By Ghazali Ibrahim 
The Presidency has refuted widespread reports claiming that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sacked the Ministers of Defence, Muhammad Badaru Abubakar and Mohammed Bello Matawalle, as well as the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu.
The false report, which circulated on several online platforms, alleged that the three ministers were removed due to underperformance.
However, in a swift response, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, debunked the claims via his official X (formerly Twitter) account.
Onanuga described the information as fake news crafted to incite public confusion and called on security agencies to take immediate action against platforms responsible for spreading such misinformation.
“Security agencies must urgently take action against fake news websites and platforms and the purveyors who fail to check the authenticity of the stories and make them go viral,” Onanuga stated.
He further warned that the unchecked spread of disinformation poses a serious threat to press freedom and national stability.
“Press freedom and freedom of speech will not exist when some people can wake up and concoct their news and narratives without regard for truth. Fake news is simply licentiousness and must be criminalised,” he added.
The Presidency’s reaction comes as concerns continue to grow over the rise in misinformation and its impact on public trust and governance.
