By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
For the umpteenth time, Nigerians in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to quickly come to the rescue of many of its citizens stranded in the Emirates due to the inability to renew their Resident Permit.
In the past eight months, Nigerians resident in UAE have had their lives affected adversely following policy changes by the UAE authorities in issuing new Resident Permit to Nigerians living and working in the Emirates.
The UAE government had middle of last year introduced a new policy in issuance of Work Permit to Nigerians, both skilled and unskilled workers, a situation which have left many Nigerians including doctors, nurses, engineers, etc stranded in UAE.
But both Otunba Kayode Ogungbohun President, Professional Nigerians in UAE and Ms. Esther Adedokun, a young Nigerian entrepreneur resident in Fujairah Province in UAE have called on the Nigerian government to resolve its issues with the Kingdom.
They said the continued ban on Work Permit for Nigerians by UAE authorities have had adverse effects on Nigerian citizens in UAE.
According to Ms. Adedokun: “I am sad that my country has failed me. I am a proud Nigerian doing legitimate business in UAE and should not be treated this way. I went for an interview; I did very well and after the interview my COO asked me where I came from. I said am from Africa and he insisted to know the country and when I said Nigeria, he retorted”.
Speaking further she said a situation where every Nigerian is seen as a crook in UAE does not augur well for the so called “Giant of Africa”. She insists that there many good Nigerians doing legitimate businesses in UAE.
However, the President, Professional Nigerians in UAE has advised both the Nigerian Embassy in UAE and Ministry of Foreign Affairs to working assiduously to resolve the issues at stake.
According to him, the earlier Nigeria and UAE governments sit down to thrash out their differences the better for Nigerians in UAE, pointing out that he has spoken to Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs who assured that the country is on top of the matter.
“I have had fruitful discussions with the Nigerian authorities both with the Nigerian Embassy in UAE and Minister of Foreign Affairs. The Minister said a high level discussions are going on and very soon the issues between Nigeria and UAE will be resolved”, Ogungbohun revealed.
