Abuja, July 25, 2025 – The Federal Government of Nigeria has initiated a coordinated evacuation plan for its nationals stranded in the Central African Republic (CAR) following reports that they were abandoned by their foreign work sponsors.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed that the Nigerian Embassy in Bangui, in collaboration with local authorities and relevant international agencies, is actively profiling affected individuals and facilitating their safe return home. According to the ministry, the evacuation process began after it received distress reports from several Nigerian migrants who claimed to have been left without support or remuneration by companies that initially sponsored their relocation for work.
The Nigerians, mostly artisans and construction workers, were said to have been lured into the country with promises of employment and adequate welfare, only to be abandoned in dire living conditions. Preliminary investigations reveal that many of them have been subjected to inhumane treatment, including poor housing, unpaid wages, and lack of access to healthcare.
Speaking on the development, the Director of Consular Services, Amb. Olufolake Oworu, confirmed that arrangements are in place for the first phase of repatriation, which will prioritize the most vulnerable cases, including women and the ill. She emphasized that the Tinubu-led administration remains committed to protecting the rights and dignity of Nigerian citizens abroad.
“We are working closely with CAR authorities to ensure that all Nigerians willing to return home are safely evacuated. The welfare of every Nigerian matters, and we will not tolerate exploitation under any guise,” she said.
The government has also vowed to launch a formal investigation into the activities of the foreign firms involved in the exploitative recruitment practices, promising sanctions where necessary.
This evacuation mission comes amid growing concerns over the increasing number of Nigerians falling victim to deceptive foreign employment schemes, prompting renewed calls for stricter regulation of labor export and greater sensitization of citizens on safe migration.
