Nigeria Opens Probe Into Deceptive Recruitment for Jobs Abroad, Names Russia a Hotspot

Nigeria's government has opened an investigation into a rise in cases of Nigerians deceived into taking jobs abroad, with federal agencies naming Russia among the worst offenders, Joseph Akpan, director of wages and employment at the labour ministry, told TheCable's Claire Mom in a report published September 16.

An Inter-Ministerial Committee

Akpan said Nigeria's foreign affairs ministry has set up an inter-ministerial committee, made up of the labour ministry and relevant security agencies, to probe the cases. He said those caught out are usually irregular migrants who bypass the labour ministry's clearance process for foreign work contracts - often out of sheer desperation. "When people don't have social protection... they become very desperate to travel abroad," he said. "Even when you try to advise them against it... the person will just ignore your advice and find a way of going."

Russia and the Alabuga Pipeline

Akpan named Russia and several European, Asian and Gulf states as particular hotspots for deceptive recruitment. He pointed to the pattern already documented this year: Nigerians, Ghanaians, Kenyans, and Ugandans lured with offers of civilian work - driving, security - who were instead pushed into the military with minimal training and sent to the front. Ukrainian authorities have identified the bodies of at least three Nigerians killed fighting for Russia, per TheCable's report; we've separately reported that the "I Want to Live" project has confirmed 25 Nigerian deaths in Russia's armed forces as part of a wider list of 485 killed Africans. The report also names Alabuga Start, the Russian program launched in 2023 that recruits foreign women aged 18 to 22 with promised salaries, scholarships, and paid flights to Russia, as part of the same pipeline; the UK sanctioned networks tied to it in May, alongside other Russian networks recruiting Africans and Middle Easterners for the war.

Europe and the UK Respond, Moscow Denies It

The European Parliament adopted a resolution in March describing Russia's recruitment of African nationals as linked to trafficking and human rights violations, urging the EU and member states to sanction those responsible. Andrey Podyelyshev, Russia's ambassador to Nigeria, dismissed the reports and distanced the Kremlin from the alleged recruitment schemes, per TheCable. Nigeria's foreign affairs ministry, meanwhile, has said it holds "grave concern" over citizens "illegally recruited" into foreign conflicts under promises of jobs, security work, or study opportunities, warning that participation may violate Nigerian and international law on mercenary activity, and urging citizens to verify any overseas job or study offer through official government channels.

Get Out Safely

Nigerians and other foreign nationals who signed up for what they were told was civilian work abroad and ended up in Russia's armed forces have an option to safely escape the battlefield with Ukraine's "I Want to Live" project. Also see our FAQ on how to safely surrender to Ukrainian forces.