FACT CHECK: 2020 pictures of Seyi Tinubu distributing COVID-19 palliatives falsely shared as 2026 Ramadan gifting
FACT CHECK: 2020 pictures of Seyi Tinubu distributing COVID-19 palliatives falsely shared as 2026 Ramadan gifting
On Tuesday, an X user identified as @abdulaheyofel published a post claiming that Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, has started distributing food items to vulnerable families as part of Ramadan outreach.
The post was published alongside four pictures, one of which shows Seyi carrying boxes. (archived here).
The post has so far gathered over 100 reposts, 110 quotes, and 550 likes.
“Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has intensified humanitarian efforts through the Noella Foundation, providing food relief to fasting individuals and vulnerable families across several communities,” the post reads.
“For over five years, the foundation has consistently distributed food boxes packed with essential staple items, targeting households in need and ensuring fair and efficient distribution.
“The Ramadan outreach is aimed at supporting those observing fasting, reinforcing compassion, religious solidarity, and community welfare—especially during challenging economic times.”
The X post sparked a surge of misleading posts as some other users accused the president’s sons of hoarding 2020 COVID-19 items to distribute during 2026 Ramadan.
The food boxes in the picture carry inscriptions such as “Emergency Food Box, Together against Hunger, End#COVID19, www.foodclique.org”.
The viral picture shared today
Posting one of the pictures, an account identified as @trigottista accused the president’s son of hoarding COVID-19 palliatives.
“Was this not COVID-19 Emergency Food Relief from The Mandella Foundation meant for the people? They stole it since 2019 and many people died due to hunger. Now it has become Seyi Tinubu Humanitarian efforts. Shame on You! This people are very wicked,” @RealQueenBee__ wrote.
“Seyi tinubu sharing covid 19 palliative as Ramadan gift to Muslims. APC and lies. Even in Ramadan you guys can’t be godly,” @Shangudar wrote.
“Seyi Tinubu is sharing Covid-19 Palliatives to Muslims communities during the Ramadan fasting. The Palliatives that were distributed during the Covid-19 Lockdown, is that this dude is sharing to Muslims,” @AccountantGenz wrote.
“Is it not wickedness that will make Seyi Tinubu to still have COVID relief materials in his warehouse in 2026? How are we even sure those items are not past their best before dates?” @frisky2good wrote.
VERIFICATION
CableCheck found out that one of the inscriptions on the food boxes in the pictures is the website of FoodClique, a non-governmental organization (NGO) focused on fighting hunger.
A review of the website shows that the NGO usually partners with the president’s son for food distribution outreaches, especially during important religious festivals.
An article published on the NGO’s website in May 2020 indicates that FoodClique partnered with Noella Foundation, an organisation founded by the president’s son and his wife — Layla — for food distribution outreach during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A review of the Facebook page of FoodClique shows that on May 8, 2020, the organisation posted some pictures of Seyi during a food distribution outreach in Lagos.
The pictures posted by the NGO in 2020
The pictures posted by the NGO in 2020 share the same similarities as those published by X users today.
The NGO also shared a 2020 video on its Instagram highlights showing the president’s son arranging food items in boxes.
In April 2020, pictures posted on the Instagram handle of the president’s son show the food distribution outreach.
In the Instagram post, Seyi said FoodClique and Noella Foundation were partnering for the outreach.
A screenshot of the post
In the pictures, Seyi and the people distributing the food were wearing gloves and face masks — another indication that the picture was taken during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Same picture with a different angle, but showing thesame location
VERDICT
The viral image of Seyi Tinubu distributing food boxes is from 2020 and not the 2026 Ramadan food outreach.
