By Omonu YG Nelson
An anonymous Russian official has dismissed allegations that Russia is conscripting Nigerian and African students to fight in the war against Ukraine. The official described the claims as “preposterous” and “ridiculous”.
The allegations, which surfaced in a Bloomberg report, suggested that Russia was threatening to withhold visa renewals from foreign students, including Nigerians, unless they joined the military. European officials claimed that Russia was using coercive tactics to recruit Africans and other foreign nationals.
The Official countered that the education of Nigerian students in Russia is based on a bilateral agreement between the two countries. She further clarified that Russia does not send foreign students to Ukraine or anywhere else, and that the lists of all students are agreed upon by the governments of Russia and Nigeria.
She also emphasised that students’ visas are extended based on their academic performance, and that those who study poorly are expelled and sent back to Nigeria.
Yevgeny Primakov, head of Rossotrudnichestvo, revealed that about 6,500 students from Africa study in Russia for free every year, with 35,000-37,000 African students currently in Russia.
Meanwhile, Nigeria has
 No: MEA/PR/2024/09 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja PRESS RELEASE NIGERIA DISMISSES AS FALSE, REPORTS ON THE CONSCRIPTION OF STUDENTS BY RUSSIA IN EXCHANGE FOR VISARENEWAL NIGERIAN The attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been drawn to news articles published by several Nigerian Media Outlets on Monday 1oth 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 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 News paper 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 to the public. Signed: Amb. Eche Abu-Obe Spokesperson Ministry of Foreign Affairs Tuesday, 11th June, 2024.
Meanwhile, Ambassador Eche Abu-Obe, Spokesperson for Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said: “The newspaper reports are, therefore, false and misleading and should therefore be disregarded” ².
The Ministry appealed to media outlets to exercise due diligence in verifying information before releasing it to the public.