By Vera Wisdom-Bassey
Mr. Brown, a 54-year-old Nigerian father of four, has issued a desperate plea to the Nigerian government and fellow citizens to help him return home from Dubai. Having lived and worked in the UAE since 2014, his life has taken a tragic turn, leaving him stranded without a job, income, or passport.
Brown recounts that he was recently dismissed from his job without pay, a situation he describes as common for many expatriates in Dubai. He explains that employees often work for months but are only paid for a fraction of their labor, if at all. “You work for three months, and they pay you for one. That’s how we survive here,” he laments. This struggle is compounded by the fact that many employers in Dubai refuse to provide legal employment without proper identification documents, which are often confiscated.
After losing his job, Brown sent his family back to Nigeria, hoping they could avoid the harsh conditions he endures daily. His living situation is dire—he shares a single, overpriced room with up to 20 people, a common scenario among low-income expatriates. The building is poorly maintained, with issues such as flooding and general disrepair. Despite these conditions, he has been unable to leave, as his passport was seized, and he faces bureaucratic roadblocks in retrieving it.
In January, Brown approached the Nigerian Embassy for assistance and was asked to pay for a flight ticket, which he did, yet no progress has been made. He also recalls a harrowing period when he was imprisoned for a year without any criminal charges. Throughout this ordeal, his unpaid wages remain withheld, leaving him in financial and legal limbo.
Now, Brown appeals to well-meaning Nigerians and the government for support. His story highlights the harsh realities faced by many expatriate workers in the UAE and the urgent need for intervention to protect vulnerable citizens abroad.