US warns Nigerians against AI-edited passport photos

Nigeria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has refuted recent media reports claiming that the State of Kuwait has imposed a fresh ban on the recruitment of Nigerian domestic workers. The ministry described the reports as inaccurate, stating that the suspension of recruitment and deployment of domestic workers to Kuwait is not a new measure by the host country.

“

The Ministry wishes to clarify that the reports DO NOT accurately reflect the current situation.

In a press release issued on Saturday, the ministry's spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, explained that the Nigerian Embassy in Kuwait City had formally requested a suspension of recruitment and deployment of domestic workers from Nigeria several years ago. This action was taken pending the resolution of concerns regarding the welfare, protection, and working conditions of Nigerian domestic workers already in the Gulf state.

“

The Embassy of Nigeria in Kuwait City, Kuwait, had, a few years ago, formally written to the host Ministry of Foreign Affairs to suspend the recruitment and deployment of domestic workers/housemaids from Nigeria to the State of Kuwait pending the resolution of concerns relating to the welfare, protection, and working conditions of Nigerian domestic workers in the country.

The ministry emphasized that the current situation reflects a continuation of measures previously adopted by the Nigerian Embassy. The objective of these measures is to ensure the safety, dignity, and rights of Nigerian citizens seeking employment abroad. The statement clarified that the issue is not a new ban by Kuwaiti authorities but rather an ongoing effort by Nigeria to safeguard its citizens.

“

Therefore, the issue is not of a fresh ban imposed by the Kuwaiti authorities on Nigerian domestic workers, but rather a continuation of measures earlier adopted by the Embassy to ensure the safety, dignity, and rights of its citizens seeking employment abroad.

Both Nigeria and Kuwait are committed to ongoing diplomatic engagement on labor and migration matters. The two nations intend to work through their competent authorities to establish a mutually beneficial framework. This framework aims to guarantee fair recruitment practices, provide adequate legal protection, and ensure decent working conditions for Nigerian workers in Kuwait. The ministry also urged the public to verify information from official sources to prevent the spread of misleading reports that could cause unnecessary anxiety.

“

The Ministry further notes that both Nigeria and Kuwait will continue to engage constructively through diplomatic channels on labour and migration-related matters.