The Presidency has advised Nigerians to disregard the “fake news” being circulated that President Muhammadu Buhari is set to leave the country to the United States.
Online news media Sahara Reporters had earlier on Sunday reported that Mr Buhari will depart the country for Washington D.C, United States, on Monday at the invitation of President Donald Trump.
Sahara Reporters alleged that a Presidency source who confirmed the trip said Mr. Buhari is scheduled to leave his hometown, Daura, by helicopter at 9:15 am on Monday for Katsina airport. “From the airport, he will fly out at 10 am aboard a presidential jet to Washington, DC,” the New York based agency claimed.
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However, in a sharp contrast, Garba Shehu, President Buhari’s Senior Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, dismissed the report, describing it as fake news.
Someone must be planting false news on @SaharaReporters to rubbish their reputation.
— Garba Shehu (@GarShehu) September 3, 2017
The President will be in Daura tomorrow 4th September and there are no plan for a US departure whatsoever.
— Garba Shehu (@GarShehu) September 3, 2017
Also, Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, refuted the news of President Buhari’s planned U.S. visit, saying the government will soon fish out those responsible for spreading fake news.
”Fake news, disinformation and hate speech are the antics of the naysayers, those who are pathologically opposed to this Administration. That is why we are urging Nigerians to be more discerning and to double check any information emanating from the social media,” Mr. Mohammed said.