The Federal Government has warned Nigerians to beware of a fake artificial intelligence (AI)-generated advertisement circulating on social media, falsely featuring President Bola Tinubu endorsing a foreign investment scheme.
In a statement released on Thursday, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described the video as “a dangerous manipulation aimed at misleading the public and exploiting the image of the President for fraudulent purposes.”
According to the Minister, the doctored advert, which shows a digitally altered version of President Tinubu promoting a financial product, is the work of cybercriminals leveraging AI deepfake technology.
>This so-called advert is not only fake but also criminal. It was produced without the knowledge or approval of the President or his media team. Nigerians must disregard it completely,” Idris said.
He stressed that the Federal Government has commenced investigations into the source of the video, with security agencies tasked to track down those behind the malicious content.
The Minister further cautioned citizens against falling victim to similar scams, warning that the rise of AI-generated misinformation poses serious threats to national security and public trust.
Deepfake technology is being used to spread disinformation globally. Our country is not immune. We are therefore urging Nigerians to be vigilant, verify content before sharing, and rely only on credible news platforms,” he added.
The government assured that it is working with technology experts, regulatory agencies, and international partners to strengthen safeguards against AI-enabled misinformation.
Cybersecurity analysts have also weighed in, noting that the emergence of deepfakes in Nigeria could complicate the fight against online scams, electoral misinformation, and reputational attacks on public officials.
Meanwhile, the Presidency’s media office reiterated that any official communication from President Tinubu or his administration will be released through established government channels, not random online adverts.
