“My Interview With Al Jazeera Was Doctored” — Bwala

Daniel Bwala, Presidential Spokesperson on Policy Communication for Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has accused Al Jazeera of selectively editing his recent interview, saying the changes created a misleading narrative that triggered criticism online.

The interview, part of the *Head to Head* programme, featured Bwala in conversation with journalist Mehdi Hasan. After its release, several Nigerians reacted on social media, with some describing Bwala’s appearance as embarrassing for the country.

Responding to the reactions, Bwala said the version released by the network did not reflect the full exchange.

“There is a fact that was incorrectly portrayed and has formed the basis of many opinions online, which was unfortunately pushed by Al Jazeera,” he said, adding that he had asked the broadcaster to correct the record.

According to him, the interview was conducted on February 11, 2026, and lasted about one hour and 20 minutes. He said the conversation proceeded normally and that he answered all the questions put to him.

However, Bwala said that when the interview was uploaded on March 5, the version published online ran for only 49 minutes, leaving out nearly 20 minutes of the original discussion.

He also claimed that an additional eight-minute clip later released online combined different sections of the interview in a way that highlighted some responses while omitting key context.

Bwala said the network had earlier indicated that the full interview would first air on television before being uploaded online. He said the broadcaster later explained that developments involving Israel, Iran and the United States affected the broadcast schedule.

Despite the explanation, Bwala said releasing the edited version without the complete footage contributed to misunderstanding.

“It’s very important that they publish the full video,” he said.