UAE stops issuance of work visa to Nigerians
The United Arab Emirates, UAE, stops issuance of work visa to Nigerians leaving over 500 Nigerians stranded and without jobs.
The country stopped granting or renewing Direct Employment Visa for Nigerians in the Western Asian country.
It was gathered that while many of the affected persons had returned to Nigeria, hundreds of them are still in UAE in the hope that Abu Dhabi would reverse the decision.
Dr Fahad AI Taffaq, the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, had said there was no official communication on the issuance of work permits for Nigerians living and working in his country.
The ambassador stated this when he received the Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, at the Embassy in Abuja, in August.
He explained that he read about the ban in social media, stressing that “UAE has no restrictions against any nationality.”
However, a UAE resident, Mr Chukwudi Kalu while giving an update on the situation in a telephone interview with a Punch correspondent on Wednesday, said he has presented the list of over 500 Nigerians who lost their jobs due to their inability to renew their work visas to the Nigerian Embassy in Abu Dhabi.
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He stated, “It is a diplomatic issue between the two countries and there are still ongoing discussions between Nigeria and UAE. It has been very difficult for Nigerians out here. Over 500 Nigerians are affected.”
“I have a Nigerian graduate who was earning N40,000 back home and he came here to UAE and was being paid almost N500,000 every month. Now, his visa would expire by November, he couldn’t renew. He kept calling me every time for an update.”
A Dubai-based activist, Oluwatosin Fadoju observed that the UAE was using the policy as a punishment against Nigeria, stressing that the FG was not doing enough to resolve the issue.
He stated, “A lot of people are on the streets. People are getting jobs but they cannot work because is there is no work permit. We have not seen any action from Nigeria. We want the Nigerian government to step in.
Mrs Esther Sunsuwa, the spokesperson of, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while reacting said, “We have no information yet, but we are going to get in touch with our two offices in the UAE: Abu Dhabi; and Dubai; to verify the story. If true, adequate diplomatic steps will be taken to overcome the challenge.”
