World · Africa · 6 hrs ago
Lavrov says Russia did not back flag-waving at Nigeria protests
Sergey Lavrov says Russia did not sponsor Nigerians who waved Russian flags during protests in 2024.
The protests took place across Nigeria from 1 to 10 August, as people protested the high cost of living and economic hardship.
Some protesters waved Russian flags and called for military intervention in Kano, Kaduna, Zamfara and Abuja.
Nigeria’s government called the flag-waving treasonable and a threat to the country’s sovereignty, and scores of protesters and some tailors accused of sewing the flags were arrested.
Lavrov said the flag-wavers acted on their own, not with official Russian support, and the Russian Embassy in Abuja had also denied involvement at the time.
He made the comments in Moscow during the Third Russia-Africa Summit and said Russia and Nigeria have a long-standing relationship.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Russia did not sponsor Nigerian protesters who waved Russian flags during the 2024 #EndBadGovernance protests.
He said those who waved the flags acted in their personal capacity and that this did not mean Russia supported their actions.
The protests took place across Nigeria from 1 to 10 August 2024, amid complaints about the cost of living and economic hardship.
Some protesters in Kano, Kaduna, Zamfara and Abuja waved Russian flags and called for military intervention.
Nigeria’s federal government described the flag-waving as treasonable and a threat to the country’s sovereignty.
- Who
- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Russia was not behind the flag-waving. Some Nigerian protesters waved Russian flags.
- What
- Lavrov denied that Russia sponsored the protesters or supported their actions.
- When
- Lavrov made the remarks on 27 October 2026. The protests took place from 1 to 10 August 2024.
- Where
- Lavrov spoke in Moscow on the sidelines of the Third Russia-Africa Summit. The protests took place in Nigeria.
- Why
- Protesters cited the high cost of living and economic hardship. Lavrov said the flag-wavers acted in their personal capacity.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests took place in Nigeria.
Lavrov met his Nigerian counterpart in Abuja.
Lavrov denied Russia had backed the flag-waving while speaking in Moscow on the sidelines of the Third Russia-Africa Summit.
- Protest dates
- 1–10 August 2024
- Protest locations
- Kano, Kaduna, Zamfara and Abuja
- Protest demands context
- High cost of living and economic hardship
- Lavrov’s remarks
- Moscow, on the sidelines of the Third Russia-Africa Summit
- Scholarships
- Awards to Nigerians reached a peak of 220 in 2026
What people are saying
Anyone who donned the Russian flag did so in his or her personal capacity. It does not mean that Russia was in support of this kind of action.