The Nigerian government is facing mounting criticism for repeatedly accepting apologies from Daily Trust newspaper, which has been accused of publishing two inaccurate reports within two years.

In July 2024, Daily Trust falsely claimed Nigeria signed a $150 billion Samoa Agreement requiring LGBTQ rights acceptance. The National Media Complaints Commission (NMCC) ruled the report “inaccurate” and “misleading,” ordering a public apology, which Daily Trust issued in October 2024. The Federal Government initially threatened legal action but accepted the apology.

In April 2026, Daily Trust published “NAF jet kills over 200 civilians,” admitting the accompanying photographs were from previous bombings, not the reported Jilli Market airstrike. The newspaper apologized again.

Government officials have publicly labeled the paper unreliable. In September 2025, the Presidency described Daily Trust as operating as “the antithesis of its name,” accusing it of distorting facts and inflaming religious passions. The paper has also previously apologized for misreporting that the government was planning to site foreign military bases in Nigeria.

Critics argue that accepting apologies without legal consequences has enabled a pattern of recklessness. Public calls are growing for the government to pursue legal action to deter future occurrences.