A viral video by one Rohrs Team, a supposed domestic and international investment consulting firm, claiming the Nigerian government secured an International Monetary Fund loan to tune of $2.25 billion, has resurfaced online.
This is as the popular Arise TV anchor Rufai Oseni through his Instagram page on Friday jumped on the video asking economists in Nigeria to debate the claim.
“Nigeria has taken another IMF loan, this time for $2.25 billion bringing Nigeria’s total debt obligations to over $110 billion,” part of the video claimed.
However, Techparley can confirm that information in the video titled ‘The Nigerian IMF Loan: An Economic Analysis’, was completely false, as it is contrary to factual details available on the development.
The True Position
Contrary to the claim made in the video, the federal government secured $2.25 billion in June at a 1 per cent interest rate through the World Bank loan facility for two development programs.
Announcing the development, the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, noted that the loans reflect President Tinubu’s ongoing efforts to stabilise the economy.
Misleading the public
However, Mr Rufai’s latest republication of the false video, which had already been fact-checked by a junior journalist at Business Day, has misled scores of Nigerians accusing the Tinubu-led administration of excessive borrowing and poor management of public resources at the expense of vulnerable.
Under Rufai’s fresh post, as monitored by Techparley, Nigerians are seen to have taken the video for fact, going on to react with condemnation of the government.
Victoriablog wrote: “No matter the help you render to them, the Nigerian governors will hijack the money for their own selfish gain. If you like, give them billions, nothing go reach poor people’s hands.”
“Private jet, VP house, presidential car, Asiwaju’s wife’s party, but for the people nah rice”, Okrote4real commented.
Charlybenx said, “They are spending these money to the town and the people are not even issued that money.”
Unbecoming of Rufai
Mr Rufai’s posting of false video, without proper fact-check, calls to question his urge to share sensationalism and alarmingly fake news which is unbecoming of professional journalism.
In addition, the situation demonstrates the challenge associated with the urge with which many Nigerians consume new contents without taking time to get correct details.
