I have been in Nigeria for about four months, but I already have a strong feeling that there is a lack of objective information about Russia here. Western media—primarily those in the U.S. and Europe—shape persistent stereotypes about Russia, and this applies not only to Nigeria but to many countries around the world.

These misconceptions are both cultural and political. For instance, I recently read about Elon Musk’s father visiting Moscow. He was reportedly surprised to see public parks filled with mothers and children rather than criminals—this shows how skewed some cultural perceptions are.

In politics, the situation is even more distorted. Former U.S. President Barack Obama once referred to Russia as ‘a global gas station’ and ‘a sledgehammer.’ Similarly, I read a Nigerian newspaper quoting a PDP chieftain warning: ‘Don’t turn Nigeria into Russia’—a comment apparently suggesting that Russia lacks democracy.

One of the most dangerous stereotypes is the belief that Russia is the aggressor in the Ukraine conflict. These stereotypes, implanted by the Western media, make it easy for people to believe lies. The public is led to think that Russia lacks culture, violates human rights, and suppresses freedom.

This brings me to the article published in LEADERSHIP. While it’s not the first Nigerian media outlet to repeat allegations about African nationals working in drone factories in Russia, this one stood out. Your article accused Russia of violating the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and called on international bodies—including the UN and ILO—and even the Nigerian government to reconsider ties with Russia. All this was based on unverified information.

The article concludes, either directly or indirectly, that Nigeria and other countries should sever cooperation with Russia. That is a very serious implication.

Let me provide context. On April 3, 2024, a Ukrainian drone struck a facility at Alabuga Polytechnic. Citizens from nine countries including Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Congo, Kenya, and South Sudan were injured.

Following this, some media outlets—particularly in the West—claimed that Russia was using African labor to manufacture drones. They alleged the facility was military, which is completely false. It is a civilian educational institution.

The Polytechnic is located in the Alabuga Special Economic Zone, which houses nearly 70 industrial companies engaged in machinery, metalwork, construction materials, chemicals, and vehicle production. The zone has attracted over $2.5 billion in investments and employs more than 20,000 people.

This zone requires highly qualified specialists, which is why the Alabuga Polytechnic was established. Students there train with modern equipment and are prepared for advanced industries.

So why do we call this story fake news? Because, first, Russia has one of the strictest labor laws in the world, especially regarding minors. Any allegations—whether from social media or mainstream media—are immediately investigated by the Prosecutor General’s Office.

Second, the Alabuga facilities are state-of-the-art and do not require unskilled labor. These are not assembly lines but high-tech labs. Yes, Russia is developing drone technology—but for agriculture, logistics, and civilian purposes. Military drone production is a very small part of the industry.

Military production in Russia involves highly classified processes and security protocols. Even many Russian citizens cannot access these facilities—foreign nationals certainly cannot.

These false reports are not meant for Russian readers; they are targeted at audiences in countries like Nigeria, where stereotypes about Russia persist. That’s why we responded publicly.

If LEADERSHIP or any other party has real evidence of Nigerians being forced into illegal labor in Russia, there are proper channels to address this. Nigeria and Russia have a bilateral agreement allowing such matters to be investigated formally through our respective Prosecutor General’s Offices.”

I cannot confirm this definitively. However, I can state that Alabuga Polytechnic has not appeared on the list of institutions covered by Russian scholarships available to Nigerian students in the past two years.

Possibly. The college is mainly aimed at Russian nationals and is supported by the government of Kazakhstan. The embassy does not possess detailed information on the enrollment process.

Absolutely not. Foreign nationals are not permitted to work in any military-related production due to security regulations. The original story began when a Ukrainian drone struck a civilian dormitory. Ukraine falsely claimed it was a military target. That misinformation has since been amplified.

No. The college offers 19 programs across various disciplines—automation, ICT, electronics, chemistry, economics, and more. There is no military training, and no foreign students are involved in drone manufacturing.

Because many of them are aligned with Ukraine and the Western political narrative. They exploit existing stereotypes about Russia to push any story that fits the agenda, even without evidence.

Certainly. Nigeria is a valued partner. Your country has maintained a neutral stance on the Ukraine conflict, and we respect that. Since arriving, I’ve held productive meetings with several ministries and state governments, and I see strong interest in deepening our ties.

We are not accusing LEADERSHIP of being anti-Russian. That’s why we invited you for this open and friendly discussion—to explain our position and correct any misconceptions.

No. Russia currently produces more drones than all of Europe. We have advanced technology and qualified personnel. We do not need external assistance. Our aim is to resolve the conflict through dialogue. It is not a war—it is a special military operation.