Russia Not Enlisting Nigerians, Other Africans To War In Exchange For Visa Renewal – FG

The Federal Government has dismissed media reports suggesting that Russia is allegedly sending thousands of migrants and foreign students to fight alongside its troops in the war against Ukraine for visa renewal.

Earlier, reports emerged that t Russia has been threatening not to extend the visas of African students and young workers, unless they agreed to join the military, according to officials familiar with the matter.

However, the federal government has refuted the reports, stating that it is in communication with Nigerians in the European country.

“The attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been drawn to news articles published by several Nigerian media outlets on Monday 10th June 2024 informing the public that the Russian Government is engaging Nigerian and other African students to participate in the ongoing war with Ukraine with the promise of visa renewals,” the statement read.

“The Ministry wishes to inform that the Nigerian Embassy in Moscow is in close communication with the executives of the Nigerian Students Association in Moscow, Russia and there has not been any reported case of conscription of Nigerian students nor indeed of other African students to fight in the aforementioned war. The newspaper reports are therefore false and misleading and should therefore be disregarded.

“The Ministry wishes to seize this occasion to appeal to media outlets to exercise due diligence in the line of duty by verifying information at their disposal before releasing it to the public.”