…Okonjo-Iweala categorically denied the statement and urged the public to disregard it.
ABUJA, NIGERIA – The iNews Times | The Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has dismissed as false and malicious a viral social media post attributed to her, which allegedly criticised President Bola Tinubu’s handling of Nigeria’s security challenges.
The post, titled “Trump didn’t ‘hit’ us – our leaders did,” circulated widely across WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook, claiming that the WTO boss accused Nigerian leaders of indulging in rhetoric instead of taking decisive steps to combat banditry and insurgency.
It also purported that Okonjo-Iweala, a former Minister of Finance, had urged President Tinubu to stop “damage control speeches” and focus on securing the nation.
Reacting swiftly via her verified X (formerly Twitter) handle on Saturday, Okonjo-Iweala categorically denied the statement and urged the public to disregard it, describing it as a deliberate attempt to mislead Nigerians.
“Beware, this story going around on WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook is false! We are taking action! The person who did this could not even spell my name,” she wrote.
The WTO chief further disclosed that legal measures were being taken to identify and prosecute the individuals behind the impersonation.
This is not the first time Okonjo-Iweala has been a target of fake quotes and misinformation campaigns on social media, a trend she has repeatedly condemned as dangerous to public discourse and credibility.
She reaffirmed her commitment to focusing on global trade issues and urged Nigerians to verify information before sharing it, warning that false narratives could cause unnecessary tension in the country.
