Reps committee probes alleged abandonment of Nigerians in CAR

The House of Representatives’ Committee on China-Nigeria Parliamentary Relations has launched a thorough investigation into a viral video showing some Nigerians in the Central African Republic (CAR).

They alleged that they were abandoned at a mining site and their international passports seized by a Nigerian businessman, purportedly linked to a Chinese company.

Recall that in the widely circulated video, the affected Nigerians claimed they were hired by a purported Chinese company in Nigeria, only to be taken to the CAR, where they were left without pay and had their international passports withheld.

But in a statement signed by the Committee Chairman, Honourable Jaafaru Yakubu, the committee assured that a thorough investigation would be conducted to uncover the truth behind the allegations. Nigerian cuisine recipes

“The committee regretted the unfortunate situation the Nigerian workers were allegedly subjected to in CAR and assured that a comprehensive investigation is currently ongoing to unravel the circumstances that led to their ordeal,” the statement read.

The committee clarified that Abdulrauf Ademola, the businessman accused in the video, has refuted the allegations of passport seizure, unpaid salaries, and abandonment. It further stressed that Ademola was not affiliated with the Chinese Embassy or the China General Chamber of Commerce. Nigerian cuisine recipes

“His actions or inactions should not be linked to the embassy or Chinese enterprises doing their legitimate businesses in Nigeria,” the statement noted.

The committee stated that China-Nigeria relations have flourished over time, yielding significant results across key sectors, including trade, investment, infrastructure, technology, human capital development, and people-to-people partnerships.

It urged the media and the public to report on China-Nigeria relations in a fair, balanced, and truthful manner, reflecting the mutual solidarity between the two countries.