Nigerians seeking greener pastures in Indonesia have been cautioned against relocating to the Asian country without concrete plans, amid limited employment opportunities for foreigners and the high cost of establishing businesses.
The Charge d’Affaires ad interim of the Nigerian Embassy in Jakarta, Eze Nduka, gave the warning while speaking with journalists at the embassy on Tuesday, expressing concern over the plight of Nigerians who had spent years in the country without sustainable livelihoods.
Nduka said some Nigerians had remained in Indonesia for between 10 and 15 years without meaningful employment, while others had become so financially distressed that they were appealing to the embassy for assistance to return home.
“Many of them are here, they have spent 10 to 15 years doing nothing. Some of them are coming to the embassy crying, asking us that they want to go home. They don’t have transportation, that we should find a means of repatriation,” he said.
The envoy urged prospective migrants to carefully assess their plans before travelling, including identifying their contacts, intended business activities, sources of income and means of survival, warning that foreigners should not assume jobs would be readily available.
He said setting up a business in Indonesia also required substantial financial resources to meet the country's requirements, advising Nigerians with the capacity to invest abroad to consider opportunities at home instead.
“If you are bringing in that money here, why not invest at home?” Nduka asked, adding that domestic investments could support economic growth and create employment opportunities for Nigerians.
The diplomat also warned against travelling to Indonesia on the strength of unverified online promises, particularly those associated with drug trafficking, cybercrime and other illegal activities. He said the country had strengthened its cybersecurity systems and tightened enforcement against financial and other criminal offences.
“It's no longer business as usual,” he said, noting that some Nigerians convicted of offences were serving lengthy prison terms, life sentences or facing death sentences under Indonesian law.
Nduka added that some Nigerians had lived in the country without valid immigration documents, a situation that restricted their movement and access to opportunities. He also disclosed that six Nigerians died in Indonesia between January and August 2026, saying the embassy had been providing consular assistance to affected families and engaging relevant authorities over some of the cases.
Despite the challenges confronting some Nigerian migrants, the envoy encouraged businesspeople to explore legitimate investment opportunities in Indonesia, describing bilateral trade as an area with considerable potential. He listed manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, renewable energy and waste management among sectors where both countries could deepen cooperation.
He noted that Indonesian-linked companies, including Indorama, Primera Food, Wing Group and Orange Group, had established operations in Nigeria across different sectors.
The envoy urged Nigerian investors attending trade exhibitions in Indonesia to establish credible partnerships and provide verifiable business registration documents, particularly certificates from the Corporate Affairs Commission, to build confidence among prospective foreign partners.
He said previous cases of fraud had affected the confidence of some Indonesian suppliers in Nigerian businesses, stressing the need for transparency and proper documentation in commercial dealings.
Nduka further urged Nigerian investors to take advantage of government-to-government trade platforms to develop sustainable business relationships, while encouraging Nigeria to study Indonesia's use of public-private partnerships to finance infrastructure projects such as roads and railways.
He explained that such arrangements could enable private investors to fund and maintain public infrastructure in exchange for revenue over an agreed period, reducing the immediate financial burden on government.
The diplomat also called on Nigerians living in Indonesia to report emergencies and serious incidents promptly to the embassy, while advocating stronger coordination among Nigerian community associations to improve communication and facilitate assistance to citizens in distress.
