*Nigerian workers resident especially in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) are crying out, 鈥榃e are starving here. We are facing a lot of stress. A lot of people are being frustrated鈥�

*A recent document by rights group titled, 鈥楾hey Told Us That They Hated Black Africans鈥� contains alleged widespread 鈥榮tate-sponsored violations of human rights鈥� on African migrant workers in the UAE

Alexander Davis | 绿帽献妻

There are indications that several Nigerians living especially those in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are currently having heavy-going while lamenting the loss of jobs and difficulty in obtaining a work permit in the Arabian country.

Ms. Bisi Kazeem, one of the affected Nigerians, believes authorities in the Middle East country are punishing these Nigerians for the sins of a few.

鈥淎s far as I鈥檓 concerned, I can only say maybe it is one out of 10, or 10 out of 100 Nigerians that are doing the bad things.

鈥淓very other person is facing his/her job,鈥� she told Channels TV.

Kazeem said: 鈥淚t has not been easy at all. I have been feeding from hand to mouth. Even as I speak, in the next two to three days, the rent here will expire.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 even know how I am going to pay the owner.鈥�

It is recalled that reports of a ban on work permits for Nigerians living in the UAE first surfaced over two months ago.

But the country鈥檚 Embassy in Abuja, FCT, completely denied this reported maltreatment of scores of Nigerian businessmen and women as well as professionals resident in the foreign country.

Ever since then, hundreds of legitimate workers have lost their jobs, or have been unable to secure new employment. The effect, for most, has been devastating, according to report.

Azeez Akogun, a technician, also related his experience in the UAE, saying, 鈥淲e are starving here. We are facing a lot of stress. A lot of people are being frustrated.

鈥淚 am being frustrated. Every day, being at home without any income; so, it鈥檚 kind of crazy.鈥�

Likewise, Olabanji Folorunsho, who reportedly is still in shock after he was relieved of his security job in the UAE, said: 鈥淚 never had any issue with my company; not a single warning letter from my company.鈥�

Response of Nigerian Embassy in UAE

Officials at the Nigerian Embassy in the UAE say they are doing everything in their power to resolve the issue, but the question the victims are asking is for how long?

Despite the Embassy鈥檚 assurance, disturbed Mr. Kazeem rather pleaded: 鈥淚 am begging them (UAE authorities) to lift the ban so I can continue my job.

鈥淭hey should just pity we the innocent ones, so that in the nearest future, one will not become a destitute or a nuisance in the land of UAE.鈥�

Nigerians in Dubai are appealing to the UAE Government not to punish them for the offences of a few others.

Crime rate, report stated, is said to have been rising among foreigners in the UAE.

Earlier this year, videos surfaced online, showing the aftermath of a violent cultist-related altercation linked to Nigerians 鈥� an incident many believe has now led to work restrictions.

Similarly, in February, it was reported online that an Indian was robbed of Rs 55,30,806 by four Nigerian women in Dubai.

The 33-year-old man was reportedly lured into a fake massage parlour through a dating app.

Following an investigation, Dubai Police say three women were arrested in Sharjah 鈥� a city also in the UAE 鈥� in connection with the crime.

Human Rights Monitor, advocates release report of abuses in UAE

Amid concerns raised by law-abiding Nigerians and nationals of other African nations said to have also been affected, the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor and ImpACT International released a joint 54-page report released recently.

The document titled, 鈥淭hey told us that they hated black Africans,鈥� contains alleged widespread state-sponsored violations of human rights on African migrant workers in the UAE.

The new report, according to the international bodies, 聽was compiled based on about 100 interviews with migrant workers from Nigeria, Cameroon, and Uganda, and over 20 of those who spoke confirmed a massive campaign of arrests against African workers in the UAE.

It was gathered the affected workers said the attacks, carried out on June 24 and 25, 2021, allegedly by UAE authorities were planned, targeted, and racially motivated.

At least 800 workers were said to have taken over the course of two nights, with an unknown number still under detention.

Many were said to have been deported despite having valid residence visas and/or work permits.

Melachio Carlos, a Cameroonian who worked as a waiter in the country, was quoted as in the report, as saying: 鈥淚 was kidnapped on 25 June at 2am on my bed sleeping. They took me and asked about my ID, passport, valid residency permit, and phone.

鈥淭hey stole everything in my room. They beat me and took me half-naked, only with my sleeping clothes, to Al Wathba prison in Abu Dhabi.

鈥淲e arrived there and they put us in prison. They also took our wives, some of them were pregnant.鈥�

Catherine Kuheisa, a Ugandan nanny, also related her experience thus: 鈥淭hey took us to the prison, and when we got there, they did not give sanitary pads for the women who were doing their menstrual cycle.

鈥淏lood was running down their legs and when we went to ask for pads, they were just laughing at us.鈥�

Several Nigerians in Dubai, therefore, say it is a tough time for them in the UAE against the backdrop of the reported ban on work permit by the country鈥檚 authorities.

The UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) is responsible for issuing work permits to foreigners willing to work in the country.

According to the law of the country 鈥� Article 1 of Ministerial Decree No. 766 of 2015, a worker whose employment is terminated due to contract expiration can get a new work permit whenever he/she wishes to join new employment.

The law also allows an employee to get a new work permit for all limited and non-limited contracts if it is determined that the employer has failed to meet the legal and contractual obligations, among other conditions.

Nonetheless, Dr. Fahad Obaid Al Taffaq, UAE Ambassador in Nigeria, stated that the said ban is not official and not from UAE authorities.

Taffaq stated in a conversation with Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), that 鈥渇rom what I believe as an official position from the UAE, the UAE is a very welcoming country.

鈥淲e have no discrimination against any nationality.鈥�

UAE introduces 鈥楪reen Visa鈥�, relaxes residency requirements

In a related development and volte-face of some sort by the UAE Government, following the hue and cry raised over the maltreatment of foreigners in their midst, the country Sunday, September 5, 2021, announced a new visa allowing foreigners to work in the country without being sponsored by an employer.

The measure, it was learnt was taken in a way to loosen the residency requirements in order to boost economic growth.

Foreigners in the oil-rich United Arab Emirates are generally only given limited visas tied to their employment, and long-term residency is difficult to obtain, report said.

However, foreigners holding the new 鈥済reen visa鈥� will be able to work without company sponsorship, and can sponsor their parents and children up to 25 years old, according to officials.

UAE鈥檚 Minister of State for Foreign Trade Thani al-Zeyoudi said of the new measure: 鈥淚t targets highly skilled individuals, investors, businesspeople, entrepreneurs, as well exceptional students and postgraduates.鈥�

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