Business
Did US-funded Biolabs in Nigeria lead to the recent monkeypox outbreak?
The media space, especially social media platforms, has been inundated with claims that the current spread of monkeypox was linked to at least four United States biological laboratories in Nigeria.
This claim is FALSE.
Here is how the story began:
Three weeks after the first reported case in Europe, the Russian government claimed that the new spread of monkeypox was linked to, at least, four U.S.-controlled biological laboratories in Nigeria.
The report linking Biolabs in Nigeria to the spread of monkeypox was released during a Russian Defense Ministry press briefing by Chief of Russian Radiation, Chemical, and Biological Protection Force, Igor Kirillov.’
Kirillov claimed that the U.S. operated, at least, four biological laboratories in Nigeria and linked the current monkeypox outbreak in Europe to the alleged U.S.-funded Biolabs (U.S.-financed facilities) in Abuja, Zaria, and Lagos.
The collage image accompanying the story included two buildings and three infected monkeypox human body images.
A Nigerian flag was also placed next to the title of the collage image.
Verification
We translated the graphics, originally in Russian, using Google Lens. A reverse image search showed us that the lab and equipment were part of the modular BSL-3 laboratory set-up in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria, in 2010. In fact, the medical equipment is from Movable BSL-3 containment laboratories delivered to Nigeria in 2010 by the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) programme through the Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland in Baltimore, Maryland.
One of the images is the Defense Reference Laboratory in Abuja, which is a collaboration between the United States Department of Defense and Nigeria’s Ministry of Defence via the Walter Reed Program.
Also, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), has denied the Russian government’s claim.
Additionally, the US Embassy through the Information Specialist, Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the US Consulate General Lagos, Mr. Temitayo Famutimi, said reports that the United States was working with Nigeria to spread monkeypox were pure fabrication.
Conclusion
The claim that monkeypox was created in a Nigerian lab is FALSE because there is no evidence that current monkeypox outbreaks result from biological warfare or a leak.
Monkeypox is a viral zoonosis (a virus transmitted to humans from animals).
We fact-checked the viral claim that Ikeja Electric was named “Worst Company of the Year 2025” and that its executives received “Worst Business People” awards. Read the verdict.
A provocative message has been spreading rapidly across WhatsApp groups and other social media platforms in Nigeria. The claim is direct: Ikeja Electric was recognized as the Worst Company of the Year 2025.
The message goes further, alleging that the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Folake Soetan, and Board Chairman, Kola Adesina, received a specific award titled Worst Business People. The supposed presenter of this award was the Nigerian Global Business Forum.
We asked a simple question: Did this actually happen?
We conducted a thorough investigation to verify this claim:
- Searched for Official Announcements: We found no official press statement, event report, or award listing from the Nigerian Global Business Forum regarding a “Worst Company” award.
- Reputable News Platforms: Credible Nigerian and global media outlets that cover the power sector have no record of this award. If a major national distributor had been publicly named “worst company,” it would have been widely reported.
- Examined Context (Regulatory Action): While the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) did seal Ikeja Electric’s headquarters in December 2025 over compliance issues, regulatory enforcement is not the same as a global “worst company” award.
- Checked Previous Recognitions: In prior years, Ikeja Electric has received industry awards for performance and gender diversity, contradicting the claim of a consistent “worst” performance.
- Direct Company Response: Ikeja Electric has publicly denied the report and announced plans for a forensic investigation and possible legal action against those responsible for spreading the claim.
After examining all available evidence, one fact stands clear: There is no verifiable record that Ikeja Electric, its CEO, or its Chairman received any official “Worst Company of the Year 2025” or “Worst Business People” award.
This story circulating online is a headline without proof.
Our verdict is: Unverified. Until credible proof exists, this claim must be considered unverified misinformation.
When dramatic and provocative claims appear, especially those that damage reputations, it is crucial to pause and check. Look for official sources and independent confirmation. Absence of evidence does not prove innocence, but bold accusations require credible proof.
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