NIGERIAN nationals in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are facing forced expulsion from the country, more than a year after a restrictive labour policy was imposed on them and have appealed to the Nigerian government for assistance.

...those with valid passports have been given passes by Immigration and are awaiting flights to be deported, while those without valid passports have not been able to obtain temporary passes from the Nigerian Embassy.

Since July 2021, Nigerians in the UAE have been victimised solely on account of their nationality and thousands have lost their jobs as new labour policy prohibits them from being issued work permits by the country’s Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MORHE) in charge of regulating labour affairs.

International laws which seek to protect the human rights of migrants prohibits arbitrary or collective expulsions and migration management is fundamental to ensuring stability and development of the state especially in a globalized world where labour mobility is a key feature.