The Presidency has dismissed claims circulating in parts of the media and on social media that a photograph showing President Bola Tinubu with Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Paris was generated using artificial intelligence (AI), describing the narrative as false and misleading.
Gatekeepers News reports that the clarification followed controversy over a photograph from the meeting between both leaders in the French capital on January 4, 2026. The image sparked intense online debate after an enhanced version appeared with a visible Grok watermark, prompting some social media users to allege that the photograph was fake or AI-generated.
Despite earlier explanations from the Presidency, skepticism persisted online, with some users questioning the use of AI-related tools in official communications. The image was originally shared on President Tinubu’s verified X account and later reposted by a presidential aide, triggering calls for clearer disclosure and greater caution in the handling of official photographs.
However, in a statement issued on Monday, the Presidency clarified that the photograph is authentic and was taken during a real engagement between President Tinubu and President Kagame in Paris.
According to the statement, both leaders met privately in the French capital and shared lunch as part of ongoing high-level diplomatic engagements. They later joined French President Emmanuel Macron for dinner the same evening, underscoring sustained continental and international consultations.
The Presidency explained that the photograph was captured with a mobile phone, accounting for its initial poor quality, and was later enhanced using a digital image-improvement tool to improve clarity. It stressed that such enhancement does not amount to the creation of an AI-generated or fabricated image.
“The picture is real. It was not generated by AI, as has been wrongly suggested,” the statement said, adding that improving image quality after capture does not invalidate the authenticity of the meeting or the moment it depicts.
Expressing concern over what it described as hasty conclusions and inaccurate reporting, the Presidency urged journalists and editors to seek clarification and verify facts before publishing claims capable of misleading the public.
Describing the development as unfortunate, Presidency officials questioned why some commentators reached sweeping conclusions without making basic inquiries, noting that responsible journalism demands diligence, verification, and fairness.
The clarification 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.
