NIPR Slams Fake News Peddlers over Alleged Lafia Flyover Collapse
The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has condemned in strong terms the circulation of a viral image falsely claiming the collapse of the newly-commissioned Bola Ahmed Tinubu Flyover and Underpass in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
The Institute described the post as a reckless act of disinformation, deliberately engineered through artificial intelligence to mislead the public and malign Nigerian professionals.
During an on-site inspection of the flyover in Lafia, the Vice President of the NIPR and Vice Chairman of its Governing Council, Professor Emmanuel Samu Dandaura, fnipr, reaffirmed the Institute’s resolve to defend the country’s information ecosystem, promote fact-checking, and deepen civic awareness—particularly among Nigeria’s youth.
“Fake news poses a real and dangerous threat to our democracy and national identity,” Prof. Dandaura said.
“Nigeria is blessed with some of the finest engineers in the world, and we will not allow their reputations to be dragged through the mud by falsehoods and digital mischief.
“What we have seen here today is not a collapsed structure, but a marvel of indigenous engineering excellence, designed and executed by Nigerians—under the leadership of Governor Abdullahi Sule, who himself is a seasoned engineer.”
The NIPR revealed that a reverse image search on the viral photo traced it to a collapsed flyover in Bihar, India, reported on July 19, 2025.
Further forensic analysis confirmed that the image in circulation was 99 percent AI-generated and bore no resemblance whatsoever to the actual Lafia project.
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Pointing out glaring inconsistencies, Dandaura noted that while the AI-generated image depicted a flyover with single pillars and two arms, the actual structure in Lafia stands on twin pillars and has four distinct arms.
He added that the flyover is flanked on both sides by marble walls, features absent in the doctored image.
“This was not a mistake—it was a calculated move to sow panic, scare away investors, and score cheap political points,” Dandaura said.
“What is at stake here is the dignity of our professionals, the credibility of public infrastructure, and the public’s trust in national development efforts.”
The Institute warned that if left unchecked, such acts of disinformation could cause deep reputational harm not only to the Nasarawa State Government, but to the larger community of Nigerian engineers, builders, and policymakers.
“This is not the time to look away. Disinformation is a virus that thrives on ignorance. NIPR will continue to challenge and correct any attempt to undermine the image and integrity of our nation,” the Vice President added.
To counter the growing wave of digital falsehoods, the NIPR also announced plans to intensify media literacy campaigns and improve digital verification skills, especially among young Nigerians who are often the primary targets of online misinformation.
Prof. Dandaura was joined during the inspection by key members of the Institute and the Nigeria Reputation Management Group, including Prof. Okey Ikechukwu, mni, Dr. Muhammad Kudu Abubakar, and veteran actor Francis Duru.
Together, they echoed the urgent need for national investment in public education, responsible digital culture, and stricter content verification practices.
