By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

On Sunday night, Presidential aide Dada Olusegun posted an AI-generated image on X depicting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu meeting with Rwanda’s President, Paul Kagame, in Paris. The image, bearing a visible Grok watermark, was shared alongside claims that the two leaders had met that day in the French capital.

The fabricated visuals have ignited a firestorm online, with netizens demanding answers. Many are questioning why an AI-generated image was necessary to portray a meeting with Rwanda’s President. A deeper, more troubling question has also emerged: Is this a deliberate attempt to create the illusion of a fully engaged and active President while, in reality, his condition and whereabouts are being obscured?

The controversy feeds directly into recent, unverified reports circulating widely that President Tinubu’s current trip to Europe is primarily for urgent medical treatment, allegedly due to a deterioration in his health.

Analysts suggest the AI imagery could be a rushed effort at damage control, designed to quell growing public skepticism about the undisclosed purpose of his travel. The move, they argue, may inadvertently signal that the President is not in good health and that the administration is attempting to manage perceptions.

Officially, the Presidency announced on December 28, 2025, that Tinubu would travel to Europe before proceeding to Abu Dhabi for the 2026 Sustainability Week Summit at the invitation of UAE President His Highness Shaikh Mohammed Bin Zayed AlNahyan. However, this narrative is now under intense scrutiny.

The speculation is fueled by precedent. In April 2025, Sahara Reporters published a report claiming President Tinubu was receiving treatment at a hospital in France. If the current rumors of another medical trip are verified, it would mark the second such occurrence in less than a year.

This escalating situation has drawn sharp observations from political commentators, who warn that a leader with recurring serious health issues raises profound concerns about stability and capacity.

With the 2027 presidential election on the horizon, many are already stating that a president in evidently deteriorating health must not be re-elected, framing the controversy not just as a matter of transparency, but of national fitness for office.

As schools resumes today Monday 5th January, 2026 for the commencement of the second term 2025/2026 academic session, the Honourable Commissioner of Education, Prof Aishatu Umar Maigari has appealed to parents and guardians to send their wards back to schools as academic activities commences immediately.

This was contained in a statement released by
Saidu Bappa Malala the
Special Assistant Media to the Honourable Commissioner over the weekend on the verified Facebook handle of the ministry.

She also called on teachers to be dedicated to their responsibilities with vigour and renewed commitment for the development of education.

Professor Maigari assured that Government is rolling out new innovations this year in the areas of manpower and skills development in an effort to further improve the welfare needs of teachers in the state.

While wishing teachers and students success in the new academic session, Prof Aishatu Maigari said as usual the Ministry will despatch team of quality evaluators to monitor the resumption level in schools.

In that regard, the Ministry is working closely with the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and the Gombe State Senior Secondary School Education Board (GOSSEB) to ensure Quality and Service delivery in the education sector.

Strong resolutions aimed at reviving Geo- Fluids Plc, a company that has been dormant for more than a decade dominated discussions at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Abuja, as shareholders and board members charted a new strategic direction focused on bitumen exploration, solid minerals, and broader extractive opportunities.

Speaking at the meeting, former Minister of state for solid minerals, Abubakar Bawa Bwari expressed confidence that the company was on the path to recovery, citing the pedigree and experience of its leadership.

He said the priority going forward is to “bring the company back to life,” ensure seamless operations, and ultimately restore value to shareholders.

“With the calibre of people on the board and the pedigree of our chairman, expectations are understandably high,” Buhari said.

“To whom much is given, much is expected. Our responsibility is to bring cheers to our shareholders and advise government appropriately to support the sector.”

A major highlight of the AGM was the company’s renewed focus on bitumen exploration in Ondo State, which Buhari described as one of Africa’s richest bitumen belts. According to him, Ondo hosts some of the largest and most accessible bitumen deposits on the continent, with reliable geological data significantly reducing exploration risks.

“Ondo is very rich in bitumen, among the best deposits in Africa and indeed globally,” he said. “With the commitment being shown by the chairman, extensive exploration will take place. I encourage Nigerians to invest in bitumen production, though it requires patience and substantial capital.”

Former Minister of Power and Steel, Murtala Aliyu, said the resolutions adopted at the AGM were deliberately designed to resuscitate the company and reposition it for growth after years of inactivity.

“The company has been down for over a decade. What we have done today is to wake it up and place it on the right pedestal,” Aliyu said.

He explained that the company’s rebranding and restructuring, including the adoption of a new group identity, was informed by its expansion beyond oil servicing. According to him, the new structure allows for diversified operations in bitumen refining, other petroleum derivatives, and solid minerals such as lithium.

“We are no longer limiting ourselves to oil servicing,” he said. “We want to explore and exploit bitumen, refine it into usable products, and also venture into other mining sectors. That is why we now have different groups under one umbrella.”

Aliyu also addressed the challenge of illegal mining in Nigeria, noting that it is a global issue that requires country-specific solutions based on effective regulation and enforcement.

On his part, Suleiman Hassan, a former Minister of Environment and board member, said the company’s reorganization would enable it to participate fully in the exploration, exploitation, and marketing of bitumen and related products.

“We are resuscitating the company and repositioning it to play a more active role in the extractive industry,” Hassan said.

He stressed that environmental protection remains a core priority, particularly in the context of climate change and growing global concerns about environmental degradation.

“That is why people with environmental expertise are on the board,” Hassan said. “Before any activity begins, strict guidelines will be followed to prevent pollution, protect host communities, and ensure emergency response mechanisms are in place.”

The AGM ended with optimism among shareholders that the new resolutions, leadership drive, and strategic focus on bitumen and solid minerals could mark a turning point for the company and contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s resource diversification agenda.