By Our Reporters
Nigerians working and living in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are heavily being impacted by negative perception of the Asian nation due to the incessant crimes committed in the region.
This is coming following the negative perception of the character of Nigerians and the increasing crime rate perpetrated by Nigerians which has risen.
The UAE government has recently taken some drastic measures including suspension of the issuance of work permits to citizens from Africa’s most populous country.
This development did not sit well with Nigerians doing business and working in the UAE who say they are being labelled wrongly and punished for crimes committed by a few persons from their country.
“Heartbroken,” is how an educator and one of the many law-abiding residents affected by the suspension Olabisi Akinbinu feels about the issue.
She said the move, taken as a precautionary measure against the increase in crimes linked to Nigerians, is pushing people like her to square one.
“I’m incredibly confused. I feel heartbroken, I feel frustrated,” the teacher told Channels Television. “It’s an overwhelming feeling.”
The Abu Dhabi-based filmmaker admits she is distressed over the situation which she describes as tiring.
“Living in a country like this and you’re continuing to thrive, you’re pushing forward, regardless of all the limitations of being Nigerian,” she lamented.
“You keep trying. You keep doing your best and then these things happen and it just takes you back to square one.”
Illegal stay, gang violence, robbery, and prostitution are some crimes Nigerians have been jailed for in the UAE. A few weeks ago, viral videos showed the aftermath of a cultist-related altercation.
In Abu Dhabi, security operatives are said to be on a man-hunt as unconfirmed reports say a Nigerian allegedly committed a murder.
But in the wake of the development, the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation, UAE, said only a few Nigerians have been committing crimes in the country.