The Russian government has dismissed claims that it is recruiting Nigerians to fight in the ongoing war in Ukraine, saying there is no state-backed programme involving such enlistment.
The Russian Ambassador to Nigeria, Andrey Podyolyshev, made the clarification on Tuesday in Abuja while reacting to reports and videos alleging that some Nigerians and other Africans were lured to Russia under the guise of security jobs and later deployed to the war front after brief training.
Podyolyshev insisted that any such activity, if it exists, is not linked to the Russian state.
“There is no government-supported programme to recruit Nigerians to fight in Ukraine. If there are illegal organisations or individuals attempting to recruit Nigerians through unlawful means, this has nothing to do with the Russian government,” the ambassador said.
He added that Moscow was open to investigating any credible information relating to the allegations.
“If anyone has concrete information, we are ready to forward it to Russian law enforcement authorities for proper investigation,” he said.
The ambassador also questioned reports by some Western media organisations, including a recent investigation by CNN, which suggested that Nigerians were deceived into joining the conflict.
“You are receiving information from Western sources whose main task is to demonise Russia. If you want to understand the real situation, journalists should visit Russia and see what is actually happening,” he stated.
While acknowledging that some Nigerians might currently be in the conflict zone, Podyolyshev maintained that there was no official policy driving their presence.
“There are such Nigerians, I know, but there is no state sponsored recruitment. If any agencies, including Russian ones, are breaking the law, we are prepared to pass such information to our law enforcement bodies,” he said.
On military relations, the ambassador disclosed that Russia and Nigeria were in talks to deepen defence cooperation, including arms supply and training.
“We are discussing the possibility of supplying Russian weapons and training Nigerian military personnel, either in Russia or here in Nigeria. This cooperation will be developed to the extent the Nigerian side desires and will help strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to combat terrorism and piracy,” he said.
Podyolyshev also called for stronger economic engagement between both countries, noting that the last meeting of the Russia–Nigeria Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation was held about a decade ago.
He described Nigeria as a strategic partner for Russia and a key player in Africa’s political and economic landscape.
“When we speak about Africa, we must speak about Nigeria. It is one of the most important countries on the continent, with significant political and economic weight,” he said.
The ambassador praised Nigeria’s leadership role in West Africa and its contributions to peacekeeping efforts across the continent, adding that Russia–Nigeria relations, which date back to the Soviet era, were entering a new phase.
He noted that education and energy remained central to bilateral ties, disclosing ongoing cooperation in nuclear science and technology, including plans for a nuclear research centre in Nigeria.
Podyolyshev concluded by describing Nigeria as a future global power, saying Russia was interested in supporting the country’s rise within a multipolar international order.
