FACT CHECK: This viral image of rice pyramid built with wood not recent

On Tuesday, the federal government said President Muhammadu Buhari has unveiled one million bags of rice paddy stacked as pyramids in Abuja. According to Bashir Ahmad, presidential aide, it is the world’s largest rice pyramids, which is a collaboration of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) with Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN).

The bags of rice used to form the pyramids were reported to have been planted and harvested from states across the country under the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP).

The event also trended on social media with many users expressing diverse reactions to the launching of the rice pyramids. Some users also shared a photo of a rice pyramid with a wooden struct, claiming the government had deceived the citizens with fake rice pyramids.

Samson Onyolu, a Twitter user, said the rice pyramids unveiled by the president was a massive plank with just a few bags of rice to cover the frame.

“There’s nothing like rice pyramid here. A massive plank pyramid frame build with little bags of rice to cover the frame work you people call rice pyramid? This govt & Co should stop deceiving the masses,” he said.

There's nothing like rice pyramid here. A massive plank pyramid frame build with little bags of rice to cover the frame work you people call rice pyramid? This govt & Co should stop deceiving the masses. pic.twitter.com/y3brMbzjqc

— Samson Onyolu (@onyolusamson) January 18, 2022

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A Twitter user, @Tutsy22, posted the photo with the caption, “APC and Fake Rice Pyramid”. The tweet garnered more than 90 retweets and over 100 likes.

APC and fake rice pyramid! https://t.co/6OXgyjwO0o pic.twitter.com/eW4bOFT4gW

— Adetutu Balogun, MBA (@Tutsy22) January 16, 2022

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Another Twitter user, Joel Onwuchekwa, shared the photo with the caption, “This is the rice pyramid @MBuhari wants to flag off. What a shame really!”

This is the rice pyramid @MBuhari wants to flag off. What a shame really! @channelstv @wazobiatvng @EbonyLife_TV pic.twitter.com/tKsa0uu2nB

— Joel Onwuchekwa (@kingnoble_1) January 16, 2022

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Busted: The Rice Pyramid in Nigeria 🤣🤣 This is how it was constructed 👇👇 pic.twitter.com/c3DTlPbQ2C

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— Blum Prince (@MaziChukwnonso) January 16, 2022

So MBuhari govt spent money to brand rice bags & filled bags with seized rices by Nigeria Custom Service

As if that's not enough use woods to construct pyramid covering it with these rices to deceive the world that Nigeria produce rice

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Has fulani herdsmen left our farmlands? pic.twitter.com/hcU1U5bXwP

— SENIOR ADVOCATE (@COCOPACOPIACO1) January 18, 2022

A Facebook user, Marshal Sampson, also posted the photo with the caption, “See how they even waste our money on wood just to tell a lie about some fake rice pyramid as proof increased productivity”

VERIFICATION

TheCable used a reverse image search to verify the viral image and results showed it is not recent. It surfaced online in 2018.

In December 2017, it was reported that the Ogun state government launched a local brand of ofada rice tagged “Mission to Rebuild Ogun State” (MITROS). The launching ceremony was graced by several dignitaries.

A few days after, reports surfaced online alleging the then governor of the state, Ibikunle Amosun, had displayed a fraudulent rice pyramid to deceive the public. The photo showing bags of rice arranged in a pyramid shape with support of wood trended on social media at the time.

The photo has been reshared on social media as the one unveiled by the federal government on Tuesday.

VERDICT

The viral image of a rice pyramid with a wooden structure is an old image from 2018.

Below are some of the images of the rice pyramids launched by Buhari on Tuesday.

PHOTOS: Dangote, Emefiele present as Buhari unveils 'mega' rice pyramid in Abuja | TheCable https://t.co/TMKBiW4xQD pic.twitter.com/68kukaeNmm

— TheCable (@thecableng) January 18, 2022