Nigerians in Dubai Lament As UAE Authorities Decline Their Work Permit Renewal

Nigerians living in Dubai are lamenting as they reveal that they are being forced to leave United Arab Emirates (UAE) as their work permits were not renewed by authorities in the oil-rich Middle East country.

This is contrary to a claim by the UAE embassy in Abuja that the suspension of issuance of travel documents to Nigerians in Dubai was due to COVID-19.

According to SaharaReporters, the affected Nigerians confirmed what a travel agency had earlier posted on social media that all previously issued visas to Nigerians had become invalid and that those living in the country would have their visas revoked.

The UAE’s embassy in Abuja, however, denied the claims by Flyworld Travel and Tour, insisting that the visa suspension was due to COVID-19.
 

“I came in on a two-year visa and got a job,” said a Nigerian who did not want to be named for fear of being tracked by the Emirates’ security.

“When my visa expired, my employer tried to renew it, but the company said the application bounced back and there is nothing they can do.”

He said he would soon lose his accommodation and would be forced to return to Nigeria.

“Many of us are using the money we make here to help our families back home. If we are forced to return, we will be joining a growing number of unemployed persons. The Nigerian government should help us negotiate with the Emirates,” he said.

Another Nigerian, who had just received an employment offer from an oil company that pays better than his former job, said he had purchased his flight ticket to Nigeria.

“We have reached out to the UAE immigration officials. They say they do not know what is happening. We have called the Nigerian embassy; they keep refusing to pick our calls or respond to our emails,” the man said.

He said if the office of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, does not rescind the directives to empty the country of Nigerians, he would not be able to accept the new job offer.

“I just got a new job with an oil company. After three days, my boss came back to me and said the company could not renew my visa, I would have to leave. I am staying in the accommodation provided by the former company for now.”

While the two Nigerians still have their accommodation, another Nigerian worker who has been in the Emirates for four years has lost his.

“I got a job better than the previous one, yet I’m unable to join the company,” he said. “They are not issuing work permits or any type of visa. I had to go bunk with a friend because I couldn’t afford to be paying rent since I’m not working.”

The Nigerian migrant workers wondered why they were being discriminated against in the Emirates.

“They are renewing the travel papers of other nationalities; it is only Nigerians that they are doing this to. I know many Nigerians do crazy things, but they should not tar innocent people with the same brush as well.

“When Pakistanis and other Asians do terrible stuff, they don’t treat them like this,” one of the affected Nigerians said.

They told SaharaReporters that the Nigerian embassy in Abu Dhabi has not been responding to inquiries.

The UAE embassy in Nigeria and the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission have not responded to requests for comment on the plight of Nigerian immigrants in UAE as of press time.