At least 57 Nigerian professionals working in The Gambia could lose their jobs following a directive by the country’s central bank ordering financial institutions to replace non-Gambian employees with qualified local workers by December 31, 2026.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has protested the directive, urging Gambian authorities to reconsider the decision and engage Nigeria diplomatically to resolve the matter.
NiDCOM Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, described the directive as deeply worrisome, saying it could affect Nigerian employees working in four Nigerian-origin banks operating in the West African country.
In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by the commission’s Head of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, NiDCOM said the affected Nigerians possess valid residency and work permits and have contributed to the Gambian banking sector.
The directive, issued by the Central Bank of The Gambia on September 16, 2026, requires banks to replace their existing foreign employees with qualified Gambian nationals before the end of the year.
While acknowledging The Gambia’s right to promote local employment and develop its workforce, Dabiri-Erewa argued that such policies should respect existing employment arrangements and valid work authorisations.
She also called for consideration of African solidarity and regional integration principles, warning against the displacement of Nigerian professionals who had secured lawful employment in the country.
Affected banks account for significant share of deposits
NiDCOM highlighted the economic contributions of the four Nigerian-origin banks potentially affected by the directive.
According to the commission, the institutions collectively account for 37.2 per cent of total banking deposits in The Gambia, valued at 35.3 billion Gambian dalasis.
They also account for 32.6 per cent of loans, worth 7.67 billion dalasis, and 37 per cent of the banking industry’s total assets, valued at 44.78 billion dalasis.
The commission further said the banks account for approximately 34.5 per cent of investments in Central Bank bonds and provide about 90 per cent of the funding supporting the operations of the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC).
NiDCOM said the figures demonstrate the institutions’ importance to The Gambia’s financial system and wider economy.
NiDCOM seeks reversal of directive
The commission faulted the blanket replacement directive, arguing that policies that displace qualified African professionals could undermine investment, economic cooperation and the free movement of people across the continent.
It called on the Central Bank of The Gambia to immediately reconsider and reverse the directive.
NiDCOM also urged Gambian authorities to engage the Nigerian High Commission in Banjul, the affected banks and other stakeholders to find an equitable solution.
The commission further appealed to both countries to uphold the principles of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) integration framework and their longstanding bilateral relationship.
It called for diplomatic engagement to resolve the dispute and prevent the potential loss of jobs by the affected Nigerian professionals.
