Tinubu Warns of Misinformation, Deepfakes as He Questions Media Narrative on His Presidency

Pat Stevens/

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has raised concerns over the growing influence of misinformation, disinformation and digitally manipulated content in public discourse, warning that emerging technologies such as voice cloning and facial deepfakes are increasingly complicating political communication in Nigeria.

Speaking at the maiden State House Press Corps Presidential Dinner in Abuja on Thursday, the President reflected on his long-standing relationship with the Nigerian media, describing it as both collaborative and adversarial within the democratic space.

“We are adversaries only in the democratic sense, as the media constantly distrust those in power. In nation-building, we are partners,” he said, stressing that government and the press occupy distinct but complementary roles in society.

According to him, while government exists to serve the people through leadership and policy execution, the media has the responsibility of holding those in power accountable through scrutiny, questioning and public enlightenment.

He noted that this structured tension is essential to democracy, adding that “this arrangement guarantees a certain level of tension… it ensures that we are constantly at each other’s throats—not because we dislike one another, but because democracy demands it.”

However, the President expressed concern over what he described as a deteriorating information environment, where speculation often replaces verified fact and headlines shape perception before evidence is fully established.

“What fascinated me was how quickly speculation could become accepted wisdom, how allegations could become headlines, and how often conclusions arrived long before the facts,” he said.

Tinubu warned that the media space is now being challenged by the speed of digital communication and the rise of distorted narratives, urging journalists to prioritise accuracy and context over sensationalism.

He also directly addressed the ethical responsibility of the press, insisting that freedom of expression must not be confused with the freedom to mislead.

“Freedom of the press is not freedom to defame. Freedom of expression is not freedom to deliberately mislead,” he said.

The President further linked these concerns to the broader digital environment, highlighting the dangers posed by misinformation, disinformation, fake news, and emerging AI-enabled tools such as voice cloning, facial manipulation and deepfake technology.

He described these developments as “concerning drawbacks of the social media age,” warning that media practitioners must avoid becoming “couriers of falsehood or unverified information injurious to national security and the nation.”

Tinubu said the rapid spread of manipulated content risks undermining public trust, distorting civic understanding, and weakening democratic accountability if not responsibly managed.

Despite these concerns, the President reaffirmed his commitment to press freedom, saying his administration remains fully committed to constitutional guarantees of free expression as enshrined in Sections 22 and 39 of the Nigerian Constitution.

He also emphasised that safeguards against misinformation are not intended to weaken the press but to protect citizens and preserve the integrity of the national information ecosystem.

“The media remains one of the most important pillars of any democratic society,” he said, adding that responsible journalism is essential to national cohesion, civic participation and democratic stability.

Tinubu concluded by calling for a reset in relations between government and the media, urging both sides to move away from hostility and towards professionalism and constructive engagement.

“Let us replace needless hostility with constructive engagement… let us replace sensationalism with professionalism… let us continue building a nation where truth matters, accountability thrives, democracy flourishes,” he said.

He thanked members of the State House Press Corps for their service and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring they have the access and freedom required to perform their duties.

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