Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Nigeria's Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Dr. Yakubu N. Gambo, has raised serious concerns over the plight of Nigerians who remain in Saudi prisons and detention centres despite having completed their jail terms, because they are unable to pay outstanding court-imposed fines required for their release and repatriation. Gambo disclosed this on Thursday, August 6, 2026, during a working visit to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, at the commission's headquarters in Abuja.
Addressing the NiDCOM chief, the ambassador said the welfare and protection of Nigerians living in Saudi Arabia has been a priority of the Nigerian Mission since he assumed office, in line with the country's foreign policy emphasis on the wellbeing of citizens abroad. He, however, identified the situation of Nigerians in detention as one of the major challenges confronting the mission. "We are also confronted with challenges involving Nigerians in prisons and detention centres, including those who have completed their jail terms but are unable to return home because of outstanding fines," Gambo said. Under the Saudi legal system, convicts are often required to fulfil both custodial sentences and financial obligations imposed by the courts, meaning that inmates who cannot pay fines may remain in detention even after serving their full prison terms.
The ambassador also revealed that the mission had directed the various Nigerian community groups operating in the Kingdom to consolidate under a single umbrella body, a move aimed at improving coordination and enabling the embassy to engage more effectively with the diaspora on issues affecting them. Gambo also pushed back against the negative perception that Nigerians in Saudi Arabia are largely associated with criminal activities, noting that the Kingdom is home to many successful Nigerian professionals, including doctors, engineers, teachers, artisans, and traders, as well as families who have lived there for decades and are making positive contributions to Saudi society.
Nigeria's Consul General in Jeddah, Ambassador Muazam I.J. Nayaya, who was also part of the delegation, identified consular services as one of the mission's most pressing challenges. He disclosed that diplomatic officials issue dozens of emergency travel certificates daily to Nigerians in detention centres who are seeking to return to Nigeria. Nayaya commended NiDCOM for its interventions in resolving the case of Nigerian national Suleiman Alufa and other matters involving Nigerians in the Kingdom.
Responding to the delegation, Dabiri-Erewa assured the ambassador of NiDCOM's continued collaboration with the Nigerian Mission to improve the welfare of Nigerians in Saudi Arabia. She welcomed the proposed consolidation of Nigerian associations under one umbrella, describing it as an important step towards improving communication and resolving issues affecting the diaspora. The NiDCOM chief also lamented that the positive contributions of Nigerians in Saudi Arabia were often overshadowed by reports of criminal cases and other challenges. "We only hear about the bad cases; we don't hear about Nigerians excelling in Saudi Arabia. Now is the time to start celebrating them," she said. She urged Nigerians living in Saudi Arabia to register on NiDCOM's Diaspora Data Mapping Portal to help the government improve planning and engagement with citizens abroad. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to protecting the interests and welfare of Nigerians in Saudi Arabia while strengthening their contributions to the Kingdom and Nigeria's national development.
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