The Russian Embassy in Nigeria has firmly denied reports claiming that Nigerian students in Russia are being conscripted into the Russian military in exchange for visa renewals.
In response to a Monday report by Bloomberg, which alleged that Russia is coercing African students, including Nigerians, to fight against Ukraine as a condition for extending their visas, the Russian Embassy labeled the report as fake. This claim was subsequently circulated by some Nigerian media outlets.
Bloomberg had reported that Russia is purportedly recruiting thousands of migrants and foreign students to bolster its forces in Ukraine, quoting a European official who stated that some Africans on work visas were detained and forced to choose between deportation or conscription.
On Tuesday, the Nigerian government, through a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, refuted these allegations, confirming it was in communication with the student body in Russia.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the Russian Embassy in Nigeria expressed shock over the publication of these articles, criticizing Bloomberg for disseminating what it described as anti-Russian fake news. The Embassy stressed that such reports are false and harmful, potentially misleading scholarship and grant applicants, and damaging Russian-Nigerian educational cooperation.
The Embassy assured that Nigerian students in Russia do not face difficulties in extending their visas while continuing their studies. It also noted that associations of Nigerian students in Russia have not reported any issues regarding visa renewals.
The Embassy expressed gratitude to the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the association of Nigerian students in Moscow for their efforts in debunking the false reports, which they said aim to undermine the friendship and cooperation between Russia and Nigeria.
