NIGERIA: Presidency Denies Awarding Aisha Yesufu National Honour Amid Viral Fake List

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria

The Nigerian Presidency has dismissed a viral list circulating on social media, claiming that human rights activist Aisha Yesufu and 35 others were recently awarded national honours by President Bola Tinubu.

The disputed document, which appeared online on Friday, listed 102 recipients, sparking debate among supporters and critics of the Tinubu administration due to Yesufu’s inclusion, a known government critic.

However, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, confirmed the list is false.

In a Facebook post, Ajayi stated: “The story on a viral list of national honours featuring the name of Aisha Yesufu and others credited to the Leadership newspaper is fake news. It should be ignored.”

He further clarified: “The Presidency has not issued fresh names for national honour different from the ones in President Tinubu’s address to the joint sitting of the National Assembly yesterday.”

President Tinubu had announced 66 awardees during his Democracy Day speech on June 13, honouring Nigerians who made significant contributions to the nation’s democratic journey. Notable posthumous recipients included Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, Kudirat Abiola, and Prof. Humphrey Nwosu.

This official denial serves to correct misinformation and uphold the integrity of the national honours process