The Presidency has condemned the consistent negative coverage of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration by a national daily newspaper, Daily Trust, accusing it of publishing malicious reports aimed at discrediting the government and inciting ethnic discontent.
In a statement posted on his verified X handle, @aonanuga1956, on Sunday, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, urged Nigerians to disregard Daily Trust, describing it as “a source not to be trusted.” He accused the northern-based publication of consistently distorting facts, promoting divisive narratives, and thriving on sensationalism that pits sections of the country against one another.
Onanuga alleged that the newspaper has sacrificed journalistic integrity to pursue narrow interests, citing its controversial coverage of the Samoa agreement, for which it later issued an apology. He further criticized Daily Trust for recycling debunked claims about lopsided allocation of federal projects, saying the paper deliberately repeats such allegations to tarnish President Tinubu’s image.
According to him, “The Nigerian newspaper, Daily Trust, operates as the antithesis of its name. While it demands public trust, it consistently distorts facts to serve a narrow agenda. It inflames religious passions with false narratives and engages in sensationalist coverage. Facts are stubborn, they will always triumph over falsehood and malicious fiction.”
He warned that the editorial stance of the paper is dangerous to national unity, as it interprets government policies through a narrow regional lens instead of a broader national perspective.
Onanuga therefore called on citizens to reject what he termed unprofessional and manipulative reporting, adding: “Nigerians must see this paper for what it is: a source not to be trusted, unworthy of the title it bears, a newspaper that should be consigned to the dustbin when it arrives at the breakfast table. Nigerians deserve reliable journalism, not a source that so blatantly sacrifices integrity for a narrow agenda.”
