Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov has dismissed insinuations that the Russian government sponsored some Nigerian youths who waved Russian flags during the 2024 #EndBadGovernance protests.

Mr Lavrov, speaking in Moscow on the sidelines of the Third Russia-Africa Summit, said Russia had no hand in the action and distanced Moscow from any attempt to undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty.

According to him, Russia and Nigeria enjoy a robust relationship dating back to the days of the old Soviet Union. He said those who donned Russian flags did so in their personal capacity and that it did not translate to official support by Russia.

The nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests took place from August 1 to 10, 2024, with protesters citing the high cost of living and economic hardship as reasons for their action.

During the protests, some groups of protesters, mostly youths and minors in Kano, Kaduna, Zamfara and Abuja, were seen waving Russian flags and chanting slogans calling for military intervention.

The action, which the federal government described as treasonable and a threat to Nigeria’s sovereignty, led to the arrest of scores of protesters and some tailors who were allegedly sewing the flags. The Russian embassy in Abuja had also denied any involvement at the time.

Mr Lavrov said the robust relationship between Nigeria and Russia had seen an increase in scholarships awarded to Nigerians, peaking at 220 in 2026.

In 2024, he met his Nigerian counterpart in Abuja, who warmly received him, and the meeting cemented bilateral ties between the two countries.

On defence pacts with some countries in the Sahel, Mr Lavrov said Russia was helping to eliminate security threats in the region, adding that Moscow was aware that some Western capitals were using Ukrainian mercenaries to sabotage the efforts, as they did in Libya, in a bid to undermine regional stability.

Commenting on the recent diesel supply agreement with the United States, the foreign minister said it was purely a business decision and would not affect its allies’ interests.

“The diesel agreement with the U.S. is purely a business decision by two world leaders who are concerned by the rising cost of energy,” he said.

(NAN)