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Nigerians in the UAE

12.03.2022 Featured Companies in UAE Now Sacking Nigerians — ‘And It’s FG’s Fault’

Published 12th Mar, 2022

By Emmanuel Uti

Nigerian professionals living in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are having difficulties renewing their work permits owing to a lack of bilateral agreement between their home and host countries.

Nigerians first experienced difficulties renewing their work permits in June 2021. Nine months later, the issue persists, and has resulted in hardship for many.

Without their work permits, many Nigerians have either returned home or become jobless in the UAE. Those whose work permits are yet to expire are dreading the situation and hoping for a miracle.

Samuel Fatori, a Nigerian resident in the UAE, said that he noticed Nigerians in the country had an issue renewing their work permits when at the point of renewal.

READ ALSO: JUST IN: US Begins No-Interview Visa Renewals for Nigerians

He said the portal for work permit renewal bounces back Nigerians’ details when they log in. He said that this does not affect people of other nationalities.

Fatori said the issue initially affected only Nigerians without college degrees, but later on, it started to affect skilled professionals.

“We complained to the Nigerian Embassy in Abu Dhabi, but they told us there was no issue. And yet most of the companies complained about our inability to renew our work permits. The companies end your appointment if they find out you don’t have a work permit,” he said.

“It is not the company’s wish to fire people. If the labour union knew that their workers do not have work permits, they would sanction the companies. They would rather sack people without work permits than risk the ire of the government.”

Chukwuma Eze, another Nigerian who experiences the same challenge, told FIJ that many Nigerians cannot afford to pay their bills since they stopped working. He said some Nigerian professionals now sleep in the car parks.

READ ALSO: French University Fails to Refund Nigerian’s €2,000 Tuition Two Years After Visa Denial

“What I observed is that our people, such as the ambassador of Nigeria to the UAE, do not understand the issue. We used to think it was in retaliation for a banned UAE airline. But now it is clear. We know it is because we don’t have a bilateral agreement with them,” Eze said.

Explaining her plight, Adebukola Adeyera, a Nigerian professional in the UAE, said the issue is challenging as competence is not enough to secure a job.

“I get offer letters. Sometimes, I would have started the job. But along the line, the company will complain about not being able to process my visa because my country is having issues with the UAE labour,” she said.

Adam Olaide, now in Nigeria, blamed the worsening situation on the ministers who handled the issue. He said the UAE only wants Nigerians to spend their money in their country and not work.

“Sixty Nigerians have left the UAE from one company since September last year. They ended our appointments because we had no work permits. Now, our government is not doing anything about it,” Olaide said.

FIJ called Geoffrey Onyeama, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, but he did not answer his calls. At press time, he had not responded to a text sent to him.

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Published 12th Mar, 2022

By Emmanuel Uti

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