The House of Representatives Committee on China-Nigeria Parliamentary Relations has launched an investigation into a viral video in which Nigerian workers in the Central African Republic (CAR) accused a Nigerian businessman of allegedly abandoning them and confiscating their passports.
The workers claimed they were recruited in Nigeria by a company posing as Chinese and transported to CAR, where they were allegedly left stranded without pay and had their passports seized.
Responding to the video, Committee Chairman Jaafaru Yakubu described the situation as regrettable and said a full investigation is underway. “The Committee regrets the unfortunate condition the Nigerian workers are facing in CAR and assures the public that a comprehensive investigation is ongoing to uncover the circumstances surrounding their experience,” he stated.
The Lawmaker also said the businessman at the centre of the allegations, Abdulrauf Ademola, has denied all claims of passport seizure, non-payment, and abandonment. It clarified that Ademola has no links to the Chinese Embassy or the China General Chamber of Commerce in Nigeria. “His actions or inactions should not be associated with the Chinese Embassy or legitimate Chinese enterprises operating in Nigeria,” Yakubu added.
Reaffirming the strength of China-Nigeria bilateral relations, the Committee Chairman noted that decades of cooperation have yielded progress in trade, infrastructure, technology, and human capital development.
He therefore urged the public and the media to ensure fair and factual reporting on issues involving China-Nigeria relations to reflect the mutual respect and partnership between both nations.
PIAK