The Federal Government of Nigeria has launched efforts to evacuate Nigerians abandoned in CAR, following a distressing viral video highlighting their plight.
These workers, stranded in the Bambari region, from the capital Bangui, Central African Republic, were reportedly deserted by their expatriate employers and facilitators, leaving them without pay or support for months.
The development was confirmed in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja by Kimiebi Ebienfa, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Ebienfa added that their passports have been successfully recovered and that a vehicle has been dispatched to evacuate them from Bambari to Bangui. The group is expected to arrive in the capital on Saturday, July 26, under military escort.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to inform that the affected Nigerians have been contacted by the hardworking officials of our Mission in the Central African Republic.
“The Embassy of Nigeria in Bangui is actively engaging with relevant authorities to ensure the safety, protection, and swift repatriation of the affected Nigerian nationals.
“Their passports have been retrieved successfully, and a vehicle has been sent to Bambari to evacuate the stranded Nigerians to Bangui. They are likely to arrive in the capital city with a military escort on Saturday, July 26, 2025,” Ebienfa said.
Pan-Atlantic Kompass reports that this comes after a video emerged online showing some Nigerians abandoned in CAR.
The video sparked concerns that the Nigerians who were deceived, forced to work for 11 months without pay, and had their passports confiscated.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has also noted that the agent responsible has been identified, and the embassy is coordinating with local authorities to ensure their safety and swift return.
