United Arab Emirates government has suspended Direct Employment Visa for Nigerians allegedly over increasing rate of crimes involving Nigerians in the Middle-East country.
Nigerians In Diaspora of UAE made the indefinite suspension known in a statement shared on its Facebook page on Monday, June 28.
The statement reads;
In line with Government directives, Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has temporarily suspended approval and issuance of new work permit to Nigeria Nationality until further notice.
At the time of filing this report, the reasons behind the suspension are yet to be disclosed as official of the ministry declined further questioning.
When TASHEEL and AMER centres, an online government-backed system that simplifies labour-related processes, which allows residents to complete all Visa and Residency transactions were contacted on the incident, they also confirmed that the Nigeria portal were temporarily suspended at the moment.
Nigerians (Job seekers) who intend coming to the UAE are therefore advised to suspend their Tourist visa applications and movement from Neighboring countries to UAE at the moment.
However, according to SaharaReporters, credible sources stated the UAE police are searching for Nigerian nationals especially in Abu Dhabi and conducting raids and arrests to get them jailed.
It would be recalled that in June 2020, Hushpuppi was arrested in United Arab Emirates by Dubai police alongside Olalekan Ponle popularly known as Woodberry and others over money laundering and wire fraud allegations.
A short film detailing how Dubai police tailed and arrested a gang of online fraudsters including the socialites was released.
The source further stated;
We all are shouting that our country is bad, and that our government is not rising to our needs, which is true, but our reputation abroad is also fast declining due to our character.
Two weeks ago, some Nigerians killed one another for selfish reasons at Sharjah, and another one just happened here in Abu Dhabi, when some guys went to an Arab man’s house, killed him, his wife and took away a huge amount of money from them.
It added;
The UAE government is now tracking every Nigerian in Abu Dhabi and they have also banned every Direct Employment Visa from Nigeria until further notice.
Another Nigerian told the publication;
For like one week, this city (Abu Dhabi) has been hot. They (the police) are just arresting anyone on sight now. There was a cult incident where Nigerian cult members hacked one another in an area in Abu Dhabi here. It is not easy. As of yesterday (Monday), they have put restrictions on visas for Nigerians. For now, no work permit for Nigerians in UAE generally. The crisis started from Sharjah and last week in Abu Dhabi.
The publication stated that back in January 2021, UAE arrested and detained, without prosecution, many Nigerians in a series of sting operations targeted at irregular migrants.
Security operatives raided the homes of many African migrants, most of whom are Nigerians, living in towns including Al Qouz, Abu Hail, Sharjah, Al Barsha, and Deira.
According to a victim, about 80 percent of the persons arrested are legal residents while the remaining 20 are those with either visit visas or visa-related issues.
In reaction to this, the Chairperson of Nigerians In Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, back then said the affected persons would have to liaise with the mission in UAE for more information.
Meanwhile, crime rates which include a number of cult and gang activities have been rising among Nigerians in the UAE.
On February 22, 2021, a 33-year-old Indian man in Dubai was robbed of Rs 55,30,806 by a gang of Four Nigerian women after being lured into a fake massage parlour through a dating app.
The case was heard at the Dubai Court of First Instance. According to Dubai Police, three Nigerian women were arrested from Sharjah after intensive investigations, while a fourth woman was still at large.
The three Nigerian defendants have been charged with robbery, issuing threats, keeping the victim forcefully confined inside an apartment, and prostitution.
Also, videos of cultists clashing and brutally harming each other have been shared on social media, with many in Nigeria condemning that act and tagging it ‘unpatriotic’.
As at the time of filing this report, Chairperson of Nigerians In Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa was yet to react to the suspension.
