Nigeria: Doctored Image Falsely Shows Nigerian President Bola Tinubu At 81st UN General Assembly

What the report says

Africa Check, republished by AllAfrica, says a widely shared image purporting to show Nigerian President Bola Tinubu speaking at the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York is doctored. The fact-check, published in October 2026, addresses posts circulating on Facebook that used the altered picture as supposed proof that Tinubu attended the session in person.

According to the report, Nigeria’s presidency said on 21 September 2026 that Tinubu would not attend the UN gathering and that Vice President Kashim Shettima would represent the country and deliver its national statement. The article also notes that Shettima’s speech was posted on the UN’s YouTube channel. It adds that Tinubu last appeared at the General Assembly in 2023, while Shettima represented him in 2024 and 2025.

Africa Check said its visual review found signs of manipulation, including an unusually smooth and shiny look to Tinubu’s face, suggesting the picture may have been generated or edited with artificial intelligence tools. The 81st UN General Assembly opened on 8 September 2026, and Nigeria remained represented through its official delegation even though the president himself was not present.

The case is another example of how altered images can spread quickly around major political events, especially when they involve high-profile international meetings.