Nigerians seeking greener pastures in Indonesia have been advised to invest in their home country rather than relocate without viable business plans, as employment opportunities for foreigners are limited and setting up businesses requires substantial capital.
The Charge d’Affaires ad interim of the Nigerian Embassy in Jakarta, Eze Nduka, gave the advice while speaking to journalists at the embassy on Tuesday.
Nduka said many Nigerians had spent between 10 and 15 years in Indonesia without meaningful employment, while some had become stranded and were seeking assistance from the embassy to return home.
He urged Nigerian youths to verify claims about opportunities in Indonesia and avoid travelling based on promises made online, particularly those linked to drug trafficking, cybercrime and other criminal activities.
According to him, some Nigerians have also spent years in the country without valid immigration documents, restricting their freedom of movement and access to opportunities.
He advised prospective migrants to develop clear plans before travelling, including identifying whom they intend to meet, the business they hope to establish and how they would sustain themselves.
“Many of them are here, they have spent 10-15 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 and all that,” he said.
Nduka urged Nigerians to consider the four Ws and other essential questions before relocating, including who they were going to meet, what business they intended to pursue, where and when they would operate, and how they would survive.
“The only advice I have for them is this: you must employ those four Ws in everything you are going to do. Who you are coming to meet, what business you are coming to do, and where and when and how you will survive in Indonesia, because there’s no job here in Indonesia, there’s no job for foreigners,” he said.
The envoy said establishing a business in Indonesia was expensive, requiring significant financial resources to meet the country’s business and residence requirements.
He advised Nigerians with the financial capacity to establish businesses abroad to consider investing at home, where their investments could contribute to economic growth and job creation.
“In terms of business, to set up a business here in Indonesia is quite expensive. Even to set up a business, you must have some deposit of millions of naira, so if you are bringing in that money here, why not invest home?” he asked.
Nduka also warned Nigerians against engaging in drug trafficking and cybercrime, saying Indonesia had strengthened its cybersecurity systems and enforcement of laws against such offences.
He said the country had introduced stricter policies, making it increasingly difficult for offenders to evade law enforcement.
“Indonesia has really improved in terms of cybersecurity and other technologies. Before, Indonesia used to be a kind of endpoint that any money you wanted to move out, or that you must have made from any part of the world, you could come here and clear it.
“But there are new governments, there are new policies. It’s no longer business as usual. Many of them are still in detention. Many of them are on life sentence. Many of them are on death sentence. Many of them are on long-term prison,” he said.
The envoy said the Nigerian population in Indonesia had declined significantly compared with previous decades, partly because of stricter enforcement against drug-related offences and cybercrime.
He added that some Nigerians had encountered difficulties accessing vocational training and employment, making it more challenging for them to establish themselves in the country.
Nduka, however, encouraged Nigerian investors to explore legitimate business opportunities in Indonesia, describing the country as a market with considerable potential for bilateral trade and investment.
He said Indonesian companies had established businesses in Nigeria across several sectors, including manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, oil and gas, petrochemicals, consumer goods and healthcare.
Among the Indonesian-linked companies operating in Nigeria, he listed Indorama, Primera Food, Wing Group and Orange Group.
The envoy urged Nigerian investors to study Indonesia’s business environment and establish credible partnerships with local companies, noting that previous cases of fraud had undermined Indonesian suppliers’ confidence in Nigerian businesses.
He called on Nigerian companies to demonstrate their credibility through verifiable registration documents and transparent business dealings.
“Tell our investors that they should utilise this government-to-government trade expo and prove to them that their company is duly registered with the CAC,” he said.
On bilateral relations, Nduka said trade between Nigeria and Indonesia had continued to expand, with opportunities for both countries to strengthen cooperation in manufacturing, renewable energy, agriculture, pharmaceuticals and waste management.
He encouraged Nigerians attending the trade expo in Indonesia to use the platform to establish genuine business relationships and explore investment opportunities.
The envoy also said Nigeria could benefit from studying Indonesia’s approach to infrastructure development, particularly its use of public-private partnerships to finance roads, railways and other major projects.
He explained that such arrangements could enable private companies to finance and maintain infrastructure in exchange for revenue generated over an agreed period, thereby reducing the immediate financial burden on government.
On the welfare of Nigerians in Indonesia, Nduka disclosed that six Nigerians died in the country between January and August 2026.
He said the embassy was working with relevant authorities to establish the circumstances surrounding some of the deaths and provide consular assistance to affected families.
According to him, the mission had visited detention facilities, supported burial arrangements, communicated with families in Nigeria and assisted with the repatriation of deceased citizens.
He added that the embassy was following up on cases involving Nigerians detained over criminal offences and those requiring assistance to return home.
Nduka urged Nigerians in Indonesia to report emergencies and other serious incidents to the embassy promptly to enable the mission to engage the appropriate authorities.
He also called for stronger coordination among Nigerian community groups in Indonesia, saying a more unified approach would help the embassy communicate with citizens and address their concerns effectively.
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