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UAE mulls lifting work permit restrictions on Nigerians

THERE are speculations from the United Arab Emirates’ Ministry for Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) that the restriction on work permits for Nigerian nationals may have been lifted, and Nigerians who previously were denied applications can reapply.

The MOHRE governs all work-related issues and is responsible for issuing work permits (or labour cards) and imposing labour bans “on those who are entitled to one”.


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The speculation emerged on Tuesday even though Emirates direct flights between Nigeria and the UAE remain suspended indefinitely.

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Some Nigerians residing in the country have confirmed the news from MOHRE to this newspaper and are optimistic that they will get their expired work permits renewed soon to guarantee their continued stay in the UAE.

However, Tasheel, a government centre in charge of work permit applications under the directive of MOHRE, said they do not have any update yet on the situation when contacted on Tuesday. Previous applications by Nigerians through Tasheel were denied as it said work permit applications were closed to Nigerians when the Government insisted the ban was non-existent.

It is, therefore, not clear whether this is yet another gimmick by the UAE government as applications for a work permit can only be filed through Tasheel, but Nigerians are already taking steps to test this new directive from MOHRE.

The UAE restricted work permits, and visa restrictions targeted only Nigerians since July. More than 300 Nigerians residing in the country lost their jobs and were left stranded and frustrated. Several efforts between both governments to resolve the situation had proved unsuccessful.





     

     

    In August, the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Fahad A. Taffaq, during a meeting with the chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) at his office in Abuja, denied that Nigerians were placed on restriction.

    “There has been no official restriction on Nigerians from what I believe as an official position from the UAE. The UAE is a very welcoming country and does not discriminate against any nationality. Everyone is welcome to come, work, and contribute,” he said.

    NIDCOM subsequently, through a letter dated 12th November 2021, urged Nigerians in the country to continue to liaise with the Nigerian Mission at the UAE for advice and clarifications on the work permit restrictions “as we continue to monitor the development”.

    A Nigerian Oluwatobi Emmanuel, who recently lost a high-pay job offer due to inability to renew his work permit, told The ICIR, “Until we see an approved work permit issuance to a Nigerian, we can’t authenticate this news”.

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    73 COMMENTS

    1. UAE Government please have mercy on Nigeria, have invested a lot in UAE for better opportunity this is the right time for me to enjoy what have put in my effort. my employment is visa is not approved is now going 7 months now i don’t have visa . i love UAE is a safe country is a better place for me and my family . please
      Mr president Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. have mercy on us . in the name of Allah.

    2. We beg you UAE in the name of Almighty Allah, please give us visa, forget and forgive us Nigerians need your help, give us working permit

    3. Please, Nigeria government should look into this matter….please UAE don’t see all Nigerians as same….please forgive And forget, please lift the ban

    4. Am a Nigerian, and i can’t deny the fact that am a Nigerian, but not all nigerian are as bad as others, please UAE for the sake of God, please tamper justice with mercy, some of us have good intentions to come and work and Carter for our families down here in Nigeria, please give us this second chance we are pleading with you, and believe me we can’t mess up again, not me because I know the family I was brought up in, I just need to work, stay faithful to my potential company because am yet to come over, thou I have plans, just this work ban is delaying my movement, please UAE should see some reasons to help us that are willing to work and help the country develop more in our little way, am a Christian, I pray and ask the God I serve to change your cute heart to see that some of Nigerians are really good people with good intentions which am one of them, God bless you and bless us all amen!

    5. For the sake of innocent people like me in UAE , 😭🙏🙏🙏😭😭😭 government in UAE 🇦🇪 we are begging you to forgiveness pls , we really need your help , my visa is almost finished 🙏😭😭🙏💔💔

    6. May Allah bless the government of UAE. Please tamper justice with mercy. Help lift the ban on work visa for the sake of Allah 🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿

    7. May Allah bless UAE. Please forgive us, tamper justice with mercy. Lift the ban on work visa. We beg in the name of Allah 🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿

    8. UAE Please have mercy and forgive us Nigerians for the sake of the innocent 🙏 Allah bless the government of UAE 🇦🇪 🙏

    9. please we really need your help we are suffering this too much I believe the government should allow people who are already working too be able too make there renewed. till everything is ok please help use

    10. Am supposed to go back to uae my resident permit expired here in Nigeria because of the issue of residence am still here in Nigeria

    11. Am set to go to UAE but due to the issue of working permit denial on Nigerians. Am still stuck here in Nigeria. Pls UAE forgive us and issue work permit to us please. May God bless your country

    12. UAE pls give us our crime for you don’t know who is he criminal that committed the crime so don’t punish the rest Nigerians because of one person please for god sake most of the Nigerians over there are innocent you know Nigeria are stubborn but not all I believe that is not all the Nigeria over there that commit the crime best for wolves to ever that responsible for the crown must not go unpunished by God just forgive the rest Nigerians over there and give them work to do they should not go on hungry with their families give them job to do to feed their family their parents their mothers to sustain hungry please for god sake I should do this God will continue increase and bless your country in Jesus name

    13. It have been hard on me ever since my company couldn’t renew my visa and asked me to stop working I hve4kids boys with my wife back home ….how will I pay there school fees and other bills how will they feed this is frustrating pls UAE we ask for ur forgiveness and for the sake of the innocent once pls pls and pls

    14. The main issue is that everybody’s claimed to be Nigerians when committed crimes of which their not Nigerians. I want government to look into this as well. We aren’t so bad .whoever committed crimes should face the penalty by himself or herself. God bless 🇦🇪

    15. Please UAE government forgive the Nigeria’s
      In life there are Good and Bad people
      Am sure those who are committing this crime are those who are not legit those who are not under a company please forgive them God bless UAE 🇦🇪

    16. Uae should not accept Nigerians to continue with criminal activities, defiling ather good Africans countries names,,,, they should carry their own cross,

    17. Nigerian should carry their own crosses,,, other African countries in uae, they behave well because they values their jobs, and abey the rules of uae,,I am African and I really confirm, Nigerian they have evil behavior even in working places.

    18. For the sake of humanity, kindly give these Nigerian s Work permit and send back the ones not working.
      Most of these people work to take care of sick and elderly parents back home, not working had led to death and suffering back home.

      Some of them have families they look after, please help them, they have suffered enough. And let God bless this country to continue to know peace and prosperity

    19. Pls 🙏 UAE 🇦🇪 government we’re pleading for forgiveness cos the atrocities majority of us are passing through was committed by few inconsequential ppl, pls for the sake of the innocent Nigerians living and working in uae 🇦🇪 legally and for the sake of our poor innocent families 👪 which for there sake we’re here in other to contribute in the family pls temper mercy and justice and lift the ban, at least all the Nigerians in uae 🇦🇪 we av learnt our lessons and promised dat whatever dat led to dis ban will never happen again. Inshallah

    20. We Nigerians in home country are not comfortable with the situation of our country and Dubai is one of the accommodating country for business and work for us.

      I have a pending work permit since 2020 which I applied from Nigeria.
      Dubai Government should have mercy on the masses. This is beyond endurable for Nigerians at home(Nigeria) and in UAE. GOD BLESS UAE.

    21. Greetings, hmm, ban of whatever reason is like putting salt on the wound for people like me because I was also deceived to believe there was awaiting job for me in UAE in 2019 which turned out to be a perfect lie! by who then happen to be my agent [quark] one for that matter Yinka by name a female! “What a man can do some women can do worst” but I returned to Nigeria after getting some connections to work as agent with some [HR’s] over there spending just one of three months on my tourist visa, for a goodwill. My advice to my compatriots is to make a positive things out of negative like I did without having anything to fall back on, am living & working from Nigeria as travel consultant now into many countries while it’s my prayer that the ban on UAE work visa for Nigerians be lifted ASAP cos it isn’t verifiable it has been lifted till today 27th February, 2022. Lawal Dare Tosin. Easyfly. easyfly.ng +234 80 51688673 Nigeria

    22. I know some people have done somethings that are not right in the country, but now everyone one is surfering for it, we are losing our job every day by day, no hope, we can’t even afford to buy food cus of the restrictions on work permit, I just want to plead the government of uae to help and forgive us Nigerians, cus many of us come here to live a better life and also surport our family, but now we can even help our slf in the country not to surport our family, is really had we are only begging the government of uae, to forgive and give us another chance to work in the country, we will be glad to see the restrictions being uplifted, cus we are already forstrated

    23. UAE kindly consider these NIGERIANS In everyplaces they are good and bad people all my Nigeria. Friend I lost them due to this issues please forgive Nigeria we want them back to work please UAE
      ………khan

    24. With all this comment, UAE your mind should at least show mercy, for the poor living in your country, remember nothing last forever,, God is the only almighty here and if he can forgive us all. Then who are we, nothing but pencil in his eyes, i rest my case…………………………….

    25. With all this comment, UAE your mind should at least show mercy, for the poor living in your country, remember nothing last forever,, God is the only almighty here and if he can forgive us all. Then who are we, nothing but pencil in his eyes, i rest my case…………………………….

    26. Please Uae on behalf of Nigerians and other African countries in uae Please we are very sorry for our misbehaviour. I’m almost stranded please I have worked so hard to reach where I am today , please please 🥺

    27. Uae and her diaspora, what ever it may be look into the heart of some kind people and show mercy.
      I will be entry uae sharjah in one month. Please and please, let us come back together as one.

    28. UAE Please,help us,
      Many of us are here with good intentions and UAE have been a blessing to many of us,please have mercy, do not punish us all due to the sins of few.
      I am stranded here😥😭

    29. UAE government should with matter of urgency consider the innocent Nigerian living in UAE and start reissuing working permit visa to Nigeria citizens. UAE is a country that works, filled with visionary leaders

    30. Please this is affecting the common man, when the two elephants fight the grass are to suffer for it, let all this misunderstanding come to.an end , i believe the two countries will resolve the issues with understanding , UAE is one of the country where common man from Nigeria would love to go for job , i plead the both Govt. To put this issues to an end. Thanks

    31. I plead to uae government to please have mercy on Nigeria citizens residing in the uae… we’re so sorry for the misfortune n bad omen brought upon ourselves, please mercy us with a second chance 😭😭😭

    32. I plead to uae government to please have mercy on Nigeria citizens residing in the uae… we’re so sorry for the misfortune n bad omen brought upon ourselves, please mercy us with a second chance 😭😭😭

    33. Please forgive we Nigerians in UAE I lost my job because of the and I cannot stay illegal in the country
      So I decided to go back to my motherland Nigeria
      Staying here in Nigeria too is very hard
      Please open working visa for Nigerians 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

    34. UAE please forgive Nigerian leaving their, God bless you
      I will visit the before the end of the year 2022 Happy New UAE

    35. Pls UAE help us lift the ban on work permit my company tell we Nigerian to stopped work yesterday pls help us 😭😭😭😭

    36. UAE government please hear our cry , please help us I can not renew in my company because of the ban I no you have forgive heart we bad government in Nigeria what they only do is to hide the money and what they promise us to do for the when they we ask government they we up to date we have not see anyone I can remember back than in 2015 and 2016 we have a great Nigeria but now we are suffering to eat in Nigeria that why we came to dubai to work and help our family’s and love ones in Nigeria please dubai government help us and God bless you

    37. This is pure racism and discrimination, UAR stop racism against Afticans especially Nigerians. Stop stop the racism around the world

    38. UAE PLS HAVE MERCY ON US NIGERIANS, MOST OF US CAN NOT SURVIVE IF THIS SITUATION SENDS US HOME. PLS RECONCIDER .

      NO MATTER HOW BAD NIGERIANS IS IN THIS COUNTRY , THEY CAN NOT HARM THIS COUNTRY BECAUSE ALLAH HAS BLESSED THIS COUNTRY WITH MERCY ALHUMDILLAH.

      PLS HAVE MERCY ON US , AND GRANT US WORK PERMIT BEFORE THE END OF 2021.

    39. If our Almighty Allah could be merciful, gracious and kind to all humans, including the bad and the good ones,by making the sun to shine on all,rain to fall for all to use, I pray and beg the UAE government,to please for the sake of Allah to lift the ban,help with the work permit,to please consider the suffering innocent , starving, suffering. Even our sovereign Allah is not pleased that f a man should suffer. God bless UAE and also help us to build and make Nigeria a better,loving ,and safe place .
      Amin

    40. I strongly believe UAE is doing its best to remedy the situation, and I pray Allah guide and lead them with its infinite wisdom.

    41. Please, UAE Govt. kindly consider the innocent ones Alot have lost their jobs and some of them are the bread winner of their home. Presently i have no job and spend on a daily basis. i pray UAE Govt tamper justice with mercy, on behalf on we the innocent good Nigeria. Allah blessed UAE.

    42. UAE.. Is a very nice country, a country where all system are working. .. No intimidation, or oppression, they take every foreigners like their own citizen.. I pray they should have mercy on Nigeria. Because a lot of Nigerians are really suffering here.

    43. UAE is the best country ever, i wish they will forgive the Nigerians because there are so many innocent Nigerians who are here in UAE. Some of them has finish there two years contract and want to renew or looking for another job but because of this Visa problem they couldn’t renew or find another job. Please UAE have mercy on the innocent ones. God bless UAE🇦🇪

    44. My second time of visa change please uae tamper justice with Marcy UAE is the safest country in the world.A country blessed with good leaders,
      I pray they forgive us for the sake of God.

    45. The ban is already lifted since Tuesday 23rd November 2021. Nigerian passport holders application for work permit will be approved. You can confirm by calling MOHRE contact toll free number.

    46. I so much love this beautiful country UAE, but what have you been through over the 10 months now is very hot than hell tough and rough time crying day and night because no any plan of going back to Nigeria because of none stop killing that’s why everyone of us decided to remain here for better life and to save our lives while we continue to pray for our dear family and friends back home, UAE government for the sake of almighty Allah please pardon us our guilty and temper justice on us especially we the innocent Nigerian kindly lift the visa ban on Nigerian citizens and grant us work permit, God bless UAE 🙏❤️🇦🇪and God bless Federal Republic of Nigeria 🇳🇬🙏❤️

    47. When will Nigerian government led by Mohammed Buhari behave like a Nation whose it’s citizens interest is a paramount .

    48. Pakistani India Filipino are all worst than Nigerian dey do their stuff silently but nija will sho off immediately by boasting … See them in train talking on high voice u think dey are fighting …. No no no …

    49. It’s with heavy heart that I plead with the UAE government to come to our as Nigerians who are doing everything legal to work and live in UAE as a safe place to work and live. We hope the UAE government as ever good country will temper justice with mercy on good Nigerians without waiting for our government as lots of us are losing our source of income and livelihood as human being due to this situation. Please UAE government the caring and loving people should please remove this ban

    50. A country that hides under pretense and lies from Government officials to oppress people of a certain group is no better than a country with openly corrupt leaders cos lying is a characteristic of a corruption and bad in the eyes of Allah. The UAE is a corrupt country cowering under the guise of moral superiority and white keffiyehs. Give this people work permits and stop the racist discrimination.

    51. Please, UAE Govt. kindly consider the innocent ones Alot have lost their jobs and some of them are the bread winner of their home. Tamper justice with mercy. Allah blessed UAE.

    52. UAE its a good and safe place to work Nd live. They should tamper justice with Nigerian Nd lift all visa restrictions .

    53. We Don fishing for UAE please UAE government
      Should please do something for the Nigeria’s working here .. because our so called government Don even have plan to resolve the issue.. they’re now focusing on 2023 election please help us

    54. Pleased I’m plead to the governments UAE and as well Nigeria government..for the sake of almighty allah and the innocent people over there…to lifted the ban ,and both country should reconsider, to ensure that everything will go normally as agreement inshallah..may allah bless UAE and Nigeria..thanks

    55. May Allah S.W.T always bless and increases the wealth and peace Of t the UAE because they’re so loving and merciful to all nationalities, they’re just acting to Nigerians that way because of the ignorance of our government, but they should please consider the innocent people for the sake of Allah S.W.T… May Allah bless UAE and turn our country into better place aminnnn

    56. May Allah S.W.T always bless and increases the wealth and peace Of t the UAE because they’re so loving and merciful to all nationalities, they’re just acting to Nigerians that way because of the ignorance of our government, but they should please consider the innocent people for the sake of Allah S.W.T… May Allah bless UAE and turn our country into better place aminnnn

    57. UAE is a blessed country with amenities and blessed leaders not corrupt ones ruling Nigeria.

      Our government should just subject themselves to what UAE demand because UAE is better to stay than Nigeria

    58. UAE is the safest country in the world.A country blessed with good leaders,
      I pray they forgive us for the sake of God.
      God bless UAE…

    59. I was shocked too, but it’s ok. I know it’ll all be ok soon. I just hope Allah continues to protect and provide for those that can’t renew yet

    60. The work permit barn is not yet lifted as of yesterday some of us still try to re-apply but if you call them or go to the tasheel trying to confirm if the barn is lifted they would say yes yes but that’s just what the high official instruct them to say…they hide under lies punishing innocent people

    61. UAE pls tamper justice with mercy, we have seen hell this period, being unemployed for the past four months, you can imagine how difficult it is to feed, go for visa change and still hoping for a turn around pls, help us out we’re dying here

    62. We can’t be continue like this pls
      Let hear good news from reliable source
      God bless UAE, God bless Nigeria ❤️

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