The Russian Embassy in Nigeria has issued a statement debunking reports circulating in several media outlets that its authorities are coercing Nigerians to fight in the war against Ukraine in exchange for visa extensions.

The Embassy described the reports, initially published by Bloomberg, as false and stated that the American news agency is attempting to damage Russian-Nigerian educational cooperation.

According to the agency, there have been no reports from Nigerian students in Russia about obtaining the necessary documentation to continue their stay in the country.

The Nigerian Foreign Affairs Ministry, in a statement, dismissed the claims reported on various media outlets that Russia is recruiting Nigerians and other African students to fight in the war against Ukraine in exchange for visa extensions.

Ambassador Eche Abu-Obe, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that there have been no reports from the Nigerian Student Association in Moscow, Russia, regarding the claims.

Below is a statement released by the Russian Embassy:

Press Release of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Federal Republic of Nigeria

The Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Federal Republic of Nigeria has noticed with bewilderment the publication of articles on June 10 in several Nigerian media outlets. These articles, citing the dubious American news agency "Bloomberg," which has a history of spreading anti-Russian fake news, alleged that African students, particularly those from Nigeria, are being coerced into fighting for Russia in exchange for visa extensions.

The Embassy of the Russian Federation is compelled to emphasize that such news is not only false but also damages Russian-Nigerian educational cooperation by misleading numerous scholarship and grant applicants as well as their partners, who could be extremely concerned by such fakes.

The Embassy states that Nigerian students face no difficulties in extending their visas while continuing their studies in Russia. Numerous associations of Nigerian students in Russia have not reported any issues in obtaining the necessary documentation to continue their stay in the country.

The Embassy welcomes the official press release of the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on this matter and expresses gratitude to the Ministry and the Association of Nigerian Students in Moscow for their efforts in debunking the fake news aimed at undermining the friendship and cooperation between Russia and Nigeria.