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FG warns Nigerians against recruitment to fight in foreign wars
The Federal Government has warned Nigerians against recruitment to participate in foreign wars.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed that Nigerians are being recruited through deceptive offers, including promises of high-paying jobs, security positions, educational opportunities, or fast-tracked migration.
Victims have reportedly been coerced into signing military service contracts often in foreign languages and transported to conflict zones, with their travel documents allegedly confiscated upon arrival.
This was disclosed in a statement by Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Sunday.
“We are deeply concerned about reports that some Nigerian citizens are being misled into participating in foreign armed conflicts. Such actions endanger lives and may violate both Nigerian and international laws on mercenary activities.
“Citizens must not accept any offer that involves fighting in conflicts abroad outside approved government frameworks,” the statement said.
According to security sources and media investigations, recruitment tactics often involve signing bonuses, promises of high monthly salaries, and even foreign citizenship incentives.
Intermediaries are said to facilitate travel using tourist or non-military visas, deceiving recruits into dangerous situations.
The Federal Government said it is taking steps to counter this threat.
Nigerian missions abroad have been instructed to strengthen consular vigilance and issue timely advisories to nationals, while domestic authorities are working with international partners to investigate recruitment networks.
Ebienfa added, “Parents, guardians, and community leaders must actively educate young Nigerians about the risks of deceptive foreign recruitment schemes.
“Citizens should always verify overseas employment or study offers through official channels and report suspicious activities immediately.”
The Ministry reiterated that Nigeria is committed to safeguarding its citizens’ welfare and dignity at home and abroad, emphasizing that Nigerians must never be exploited or trafficked into foreign conflicts.
This may not be the best of times for the POS operators and many Nigerians, as The Association of Point of Sale Service Providers {POS} have threatened to suspend and cripple banking operations in the country if the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPC) fail to immediately intervene in the alleged exclusivity practice by Verve International and Interswitch Limited.
The Association disclosed this in a statement signed by Yomi Idowu, Communications Consultant to the Association.
According to Idowu, the POS operators have written a letter to protest the alleged persistent unlawful decisions of the two companies, noting that the actions of Verve and Interswitch negate ‘extant rules and regulations of the Central Bank of Nigeria{CBN} and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act {FCCPC}, 2018.
The Association of POS Service Providers emphasised that ‘As representatives’ of a coalition comprising several Central Bank of Nigeria Licensed payment acceptors/acquirers, processors and switches, they would have no option but to suspend acceptance/acquiring, processing and switching of Verve Card transactions.
The Point of Sales Association in the letter was quoted thus: “This decision has become unavoidable due to the persistent and escalating unlawful conduct of Verve International (Verve) and Interswitch Limited (Interswitch) which according to the Association jointly undermine “The integrity of Nigeria’s payments ecosystem, erode the capital base of participating institutions and violate several regulatory requirements.”
The Association highlighted the breaches as including but not limited to: maintenance of an exclusive monopoly over Verve transaction processing; abuse of dominant position in the domestic card scheme market, contrary to section 72 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018(FCCPCA) and Section 3,4,7,3 of the CBN Guidelines on Operation of Electronic Payment Channels; imposition of scheme fees in excess of the regulated Merchant Service Commission(MSC) share attributable to acquirers under extant CBN regulations and; unauthorised and unlawful debits from settlement accounts of Acquirers, and Processors /Switches.
The POS Association recalled that its members contributed immensely to building the acceptance and growth of Verve cards at enormous cost to its members in compliance with the CBN regulations without subsidy from Verve and Interswitch as a domestic scheme in Nigeria.
Mr Idowu concluded that “Ironically, the association emphasised that other card scheme operators have since abolished all forms of exclusivity in compliance with the CBN regulations.”
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