The Presidency has dismissed reports claiming that President Bola Tinubu is scheduled to visit the White House on Tuesday for talks with United States Vice President J.D. Vance. The clarification follows growing speculation triggered by unverified online publications.
Temitope Ajayi, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, described the report as “false and misleading,” warning that it was part of a wider pattern of misinformation about the President’s diplomatic activities. Posting on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, Ajayi urged Nigerians and the media to verify information before spreading it.
“There is a Sahara Reporters story that President Tinubu is going to the US on Tuesday to see US Vice President J.D. Vance. That story is not true,” Ajayi wrote. “If President Tinubu is going to the White House, he won’t be going to see a Vice President.”
The Presidency’s clarification comes amid increased attention on US-Nigeria relations after US President Donald Trump threatened possible military intervention in Nigeria over alleged persecution of Christians. Trump recently designated Nigeria as a “country of particular concern,” citing what he described as continued violence against Christian communities.
Nigeria’s government has strongly denied any form of religious persecution, insisting that the country upholds freedom of worship and that security forces are addressing violent attacks across all regions without bias. Officials described the allegations as politically motivated and “grossly inaccurate.”
Ajayi said the false report of Tinubu’s supposed White House visit had only fueled unnecessary speculation and misinformation. He emphasized that matters relating to the President’s international schedule would always be officially communicated through proper channels.
The Presidency reiterated its commitment to transparency in international relations, stressing that any official engagement with Washington would be publicly announced in line with established diplomatic protocols.
