Nigerians Condemn Tinubu Government After President's…

On July 5, 2026, the Nigerian presidency sparked public outrage after the President Bola Tinubu Media Centre shared an AI-generated image of First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu frying and selling akara. The incident drew sharp criticism from Nigerians who viewed the post as a mockery of the economic hardships currently facing the country.

What happened

The AI-generated image was posted to the Presidency’s official social media accounts on a Friday. The picture depicted the First Lady standing behind a roadside stand, wearing an apron inscribed with the phrase, “Iya Alakara, fuelling the nation with love.” This post followed previous remarks made by the First Lady during an interview, where she suggested that small-scale businesses like frying akara, roasting corn, or producing kuli-kuli were viable ways to earn a living with minimal capital. While she framed these activities as opportunities supported by government grants, the public reaction to the AI image was overwhelmingly negative.

Social media users on X accused the administration of being out of touch with the realities of soaring inflation, widespread poverty, and the rising cost of living. Critics described the AI-generated content as "utterly ridiculous" and "grossly insulting," arguing that it made light of the suffering of the masses. Many commenters pointed out that the promotion of informal, low-capital businesses served as a distraction from more pressing national issues, including high levels of insecurity and unemployment. The backlash highlighted a growing tension between the administration's attempts to promote these small-scale ventures and the public's perception of the government's response to the nation's economic instability.