Viral online claims that a photo of President Bola Tinubu and his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame in Paris was AI-manipulated have been dismissed by the Presidency as inaccurate.
The clarification, signed by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, reaffirmed the Presidency’s commitment to transparency and accurate communication.
The controversy arose after an enhanced version of the image, from the leaders’ meeting on January 4, 2026, displayed a visible Grok watermark, prompting some social media users to allege it was fake or AI-generated.
In a statement on Monday, the Presidency clarified that the photograph is authentic. It was taken during a private lunch between the two leaders, who later joined French President Emmanuel Macron for dinner as part of ongoing diplomatic engagements.
Officials explained that the image was initially captured on a mobile phone, resulting in lower quality, and was later enhanced using a digital image-improvement tool to improve clarity. The Presidency emphasized that this process does not constitute AI generation or fabrication.
The statement expressed concern over “hasty conclusions and inaccurate reporting”, urging journalists to verify facts before publishing claims that could mislead the public. It also called for responsible reporting based on diligence, verification, and fairness.
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