The Presidency has rejected claims circulating in parts of the media and across social media that a photograph showing President Bola Tinubu and Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Paris was generated using artificial intelligence, describing the allegation as false and misleading.
The clarification follows controversy surrounding an image from a private meeting between the two leaders in Paris on January 4, 2026.
The photograph sparked online debate after an enhanced version surfaced bearing a visible Grok watermark, leading some social media users to question its authenticity and suggest it was AI-generated.
Despite earlier explanations, skepticism persisted online, with calls for greater transparency in the handling of official images.
The photograph was initially shared on President Tinubu’s verified X account and later reposted by a presidential aide, amplifying public scrutiny.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Presidency insisted that the image is genuine and was taken during an actual engagement between the Nigerian and Rwandan leaders in the French capital.
According to the statement, Presidents Tinubu and Kagame met privately and shared lunch as part of ongoing high-level diplomatic consultations.
The Presidency explained that the photograph was captured with a mobile phone, accounting for its initial low quality.
It said the image was later enhanced using a digital image-improvement tool to improve clarity, stressing that such enhancement does not amount to fabricating or generating an AI image.
“The picture is real and not AI-generated, as has been wrongly suggested,” the statement said, adding that post-capture image enhancement does not invalidate the authenticity of the meeting or the moment captured.
The two leaders later joined French President Emmanuel Macron for dinner the same evening, underscoring continued continental and international diplomatic engagements.
The Presidency expressed concern over what it described as hasty conclusions and inaccurate reporting, urging journalists and media organisations to verify facts and seek clarification before publishing claims capable of misleading the public.
Describing the controversy as unfortunate, officials questioned why some commentators drew sweeping conclusions without making basic inquiries, noting that responsible journalism demands diligence, verification, and fairness.
The statement was signed by Temitope Ajayi, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, who reaffirmed the Presidency’s commitment to transparency and accurate public communication.
