By Omonu YG Nelson
Nigerian university don and media icon, Dr. Austin Maho, has blamed Western media and its apologists for perpetuating false narratives about China’s involvement in Africa. Maho, who stated this at the Mid-Autumn Festival which took place at the weekend in Abuja, argued that these deliberate attempts aim to demonise China and misrepresent its role on the continent.
“Fake news about China is real, and we tend to define China along the lines of how the West wants us to see China,” Maho said. He emphasised the need for critical thinking, urging journalists to interrogate information and avoid spreading misinformation.
Maho cited examples of prevalent fake news stories, including:
1. Force organ harvesting: “There was a story that even made it to the floor of the House of Representatives, that some Chinese are harvesting penises in Nigeria and Africa, and transporting them to China.”
2. Chinese prisoners working in Nigeria: “I’ve interrogated this, I’ve gone to many Chinese firms, there’s no evidence whatsoever that the Chinese sent prisoners to come and work in Nigeria.”
3. Chinese involvement in illegal mining: “Most of those firms that are built and arrested for illegal mining are owned by Nigerians, not Chinese.”
4. China’s alleged debt trap diplomacy: “China has committed $51 billion to developmental projects across Africa… Most of the funds coming from China are tied to developmental projects, roads, rail, bridges.”
5. Uighur detention camps: “Many of us have heard about the Uighur detention camps, but the West tends to see the war through their frame, given to us by Western countries.”
He explained that Western media’s portrayal of China is often misleading, emphasising the importance of balanced reporting. “As journalists, we have to equally scrutinise the kind of resources coming from Africa, from Western bank institutions, compared to Chinese funds.”