IN SHORT: Several social media posts claim Putin has called Nigeria a “British branch in Africa”. But there is no evidence that Putin made such a statement and Russia and Nigeria have continued peaceful diplomatic relations.
Russian president Vladimir Putin has called Nigeria the “British branch in Africa”, and it’s for this reason he hasn’t visited Nigeria. This is according to several posts on Facebook.
One post from 3 October 2025 reads, in part: “Breaking News: Russia’s Putin Dismisses Nigeria as ‘British Branch in Africa’— Explains Why He Never Visited the Country ‘don’t see Nigeria as a country, but as a British branch in Africa. That’s why I have never visited or spoken about them, – Russian President.”
The post, shared over 350 times, claims Putin said: “Britain still dictates Nigeria’s affairs, speaks on her behalf, and controls her destiny from behind the curtains.”
Putin has been the dominant political figure in Russia, serving as either president or prime minister since 1999. He began his fifth term as president in 2024.
Nigeria was colonised by Britain, which formally took control in the early 1900s and merged the northern and southern regions in 1914. The country remained under British rule until it gained independence on 1 October 1960.
The claim about Putin’s comment surfaced after Nigeria marked its 65th year of independence on 1 October 2025.
