The Federal Government has clarified that there is no fresh ban imposed by Kuwait on the recruitment of Nigerian domestic workers, saying the suspension in place was initiated by Nigeria years ago over welfare concerns.
In a statement issued on Saturday, August 1, 2026, by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government said recent media reports suggesting a new ban by Kuwaiti authorities “DO NOT accurately reflect the current situation.”
Signed by the Ministry’s Spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, the statement explained that the Nigerian Embassy in Kuwait City 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 Kuwait.
The measure, according to the Ministry, was taken pending the resolution of concerns relating to the welfare, protection, and working conditions of Nigerian domestic workers in the country.
“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,” the statement read.
The Ministry added that both Nigeria and Kuwait would continue to engage through diplomatic channels on labour and migration-related matters.
It said competent authorities from both countries are working toward establishing “a mutually beneficial framework that guarantees fair recruitment practices, adequate legal protection, and decent working conditions for Nigerian workers.”
The Ministry urged members of the public to exercise caution and verify information from official sources before publication to avoid the dissemination of misleading reports that could cause “unnecessary concern among Nigerians residing in Kuwait and their families at home.”