Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has called on the Central Bank of The Gambia to reverse its directive requiring banks operating in the country to replace non-Gambian employees with qualified Gambian nationals by December 31, 2026.

NiDCOM Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, described the directive as deeply worrisome, warning that its implementation could lead to the displacement of 57 Nigerian professionals working in four Nigerian-origin banks in The Gambia.

The directive, reportedly issued by the Central Bank of The Gambia on September 16, 2026, requires financial institutions to replace existing foreign employees with qualified Gambians before the end of the year.

In a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja and signed by NiDCOM’s Head of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, the commission said the affected Nigerian professionals reportedly possess valid residency and work permits and have made significant contributions to the Gambian banking sector.

While acknowledging The Gambia’s right to promote local employment and develop its workforce, NiDCOM insisted that such policies must respect existing employment arrangements, legitimate work authorisations and the principles of African solidarity and regional integration.

The commission also highlighted the economic contributions of the four banks potentially affected by the directive, noting that they collectively account for approximately 37.2 per cent of total banking industry deposits, valued at 35.3 billion Gambian dalasis (GMD).

According to the commission, the banks also account for 32.6 per cent of the industry’s loans, valued at GMD7.67 billion, and 37 per cent of total banking assets, estimated at GMD44.78 billion.

It added that the institutions account for approximately 34.5 per cent of investments in Central Bank bonds and reportedly provide 90 per cent of the funding supporting the operations of the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC).

NiDCOM described the proposed replacement policy as contradictory to efforts to promote African investment, regional economic cooperation and the free movement of people across the continent.

It warned that measures capable of displacing qualified African professionals could undermine the spirit of regional integration and discourage cross-border investments.

The commission consequently urged the Gambian central bank to immediately reconsider and reverse what it described as a blanket replacement directive.

It also called for engagement with the Nigerian High Commission in Banjul, the affected financial institutions and other relevant stakeholders to find an equitable resolution.

NiDCOM further urged Gambian authorities to uphold the spirit of ECOWAS integration and the longstanding cordial relationship between Nigeria and The Gambia, stressing the need for constructive diplomatic engagement to resolve the matter. The Sun