Stakeholders in Abuja have called on the federal government to urgently repatriate Nigerian miners reportedly stranded in the Central African Republic (CAR), following the circulation of a viral video showing their dire condition.

The miners claimed they were brought to Sénye, in the Bambari region, by a Chinese mining firm ten months ago but were abandoned without pay for six months.

The miners alleged that their passports were seized, preventing their return to Nigeria.

The stakeholders said in Abuja on Friday that the situation called for urgent government intervention to repatriate the stranded miners.

They also urged Nigerian miners to verify job offers thoroughly before accepting any roles in foreign extraction operations.

Akinade Olatunji of the University of Ibadan advised Nigerians to conduct due diligence before accepting overseas job offers, warning against falling into exploitative situations.

Shekwonyadu Iyakwari of the Federal University of Lafia emphasised the warning, urging young Nigerians not to chase foreign opportunities blindly.

Dele Ayankele, president of the Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN), linked the incident to the broader “National Japa Syndrome”.

He described it as a reflection of the increasing number of Nigerians seeking better opportunities abroad due to economic challenges.

He called for a national strategy to create more viable opportunities within Nigeria’s mining sector, stressing that enabling local growth and participation would help reduce youth migration, build skills, and boost the economy.

Civil society groups also weighed in. Philip Jakpor, executive director of the Renevlyn Development Initiative, appealed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to take swift action.

Meanwhile, the chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, confirmed that officials from the Nigerian Embassy in the Central African Republic had made contact with the stranded miners.

She said their passports had been retrieved and arrangements were underway to transport them to Bangui, the capital, for their safe return to Nigeria. 

(NAN)