The House of Representatives Committee on China-Nigeria Parliamentary Relations has launched a thorough investigation into a viral video depicting some Nigerians in the Central African Republic (CAR) alleging abandonment and passport seizure by a Nigerian businessman, purportedly linked to a Chinese company.
Recall that in the widely circulated video, the affected Nigerians expressed their grievances, claiming 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 released to the press and signed by the committee’s Chairman, Hon. Jaafaru Yakubu, the committee assured that a thorough investigation will be conducted to uncover the truth behind the allegations.
“The Committee regrets the unfortunate situation the Nigerian workers are being subjected to in CAR and assures 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 is not affiliated with the Chinese Embassy or the China General Chamber of Commerce.
“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 nations.
