Ambassador of Nigeria to Russia Steve Davies Ugbah (R,back) speaks with Nigerians in front of Nigerian embassy in Moscow on July 13, 2918. Fraudsters have tricked scores of Nigerians by selling them football World Cup fan passes to travel to Russia, leaving many stranded and penniless, victims and anti-trafficking campaigners say. Vasily MAXIMOV / AFP

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the immediate repatriation of Nigerians stranded in Russia.

The President ordered the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama and the Minister of State, Aviation, Hadi Sirika to commence the process of repatriating Nigerians who travelled to Russia for the 2018 FIFA World Cup but got stranded after the competition.

In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu explained that the football fans got stranded in the country following the activities of some unscrupulous travel agents who cancelled their return tickets and abandoned them to their fate.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Aviation have in compliance with the President’s directive taken the necessary actions to bring the Nigerians back.

According to Shehu, the President’s directive is in line with the policy of the current administration to ensure the welfare of all Nigerians in every part of the world.

President Buhari administration has on several occasions ensured the repatriation of Nigerians from foreign countries like Libya and other conflict zones.