A major enforcement operation by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has uncovered extensive immigration, labour, and corporate law violations at Royal Castle Ceramic Company Limited, located in Sagamu, Ogun State.
Established in 2022 with only a Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) registration, the company has operated outside the legal regulatory framework, officials said. It allegedly failed to obtain a mandatory Business Permit and Establishment Quota, as required under Sections 36 and 38 of the Immigration Act, 2015.
Instead, the company employed expatriates deployed from other firms without lawful transfer or quota slot approvals—a practice known as quota trafficking. Several foreign workers were also reportedly hired under inappropriate visa categories, including Business Visas and Temporary Work Permits (TWP), which do not authorize long-term or managerial employment.
The situation escalated following allegations that a retired Deputy Comptroller General of Immigration intervened to secure the release of five Chinese nationals arrested during the enforcement operation. The suspected interference has drawn criticism from civil society groups and immigration officials, who warn that insider protection may be enabling foreign companies to circumvent Nigerian laws with impunity.
According to the NIS, five Chinese nationals were arrested during the raid, all allegedly involved in roles beyond the scope of their permits:
• Zhang Damou – An employee of another firm working as Sales Manager at Royal Castle without quota approval, classified as quota trafficking.
• Qian Jin – Entered Nigeria with a TWP but undertook work beyond the permit’s scope.
• Lin Jianfeng – Entered on a Business Visa but was engaged in full-time employment.
• Tang Pan – Worked as a Company Interpreter, a role not covered by his TWP.
• Guo Zhengheng – Entered on a Business Visa but was found working in violation of visa conditions.
These acts contravene Section 56 of the Immigration Act, 2015, which prohibits misuse of visas and permits. Authorities confirmed that the expatriates are facing prosecution, repatriation, and permanent stop-listing to prevent their return to Nigeria.
Beyond immigration offences, the company was also found to be in breach of labour and tax laws. Reports indicate that Nigerian workers at the Sagamu factory were exposed to unsafe working conditions, denied protective equipment, and made to work long hours for wages allegedly below the national minimum wage, in violation of the Labour Act.
Additionally, the company failed to meet statutory obligations such as filing monthly immigration returns and tax remittances.
Sources within the NIS revealed that enforcement efforts were compromised when a retired Deputy Comptroller General, allegedly with ties to the current Comptroller General, intervened to secure the quiet release of the arrested expatriates.
“This kind of interference undermines the integrity of our immigration system and demoralizes officers risking their lives to uphold the law,” one senior immigration source said.
Following the scandal, the federal government has taken several corrective steps:
• The operational license of Royal Castle Ceramics has been revoked. The company has been blacklisted from receiving future expatriate quotas or business permits. All implicated expatriates, including fugitive shareholder Zhang Kefeng, have been permanently stop-listed.
• A formal internal review has been launched into the role of retired senior officers alleged to have interfered in the enforcement process. The Ministry of Labour and Employment has been called upon to ensure compliance with minimum wage laws, safety standards, and worker compensation.
Labour groups and policy analysts say the Royal Castle Ceramics case highlights a troubling nexus between foreign business interests and compromised local enforcement, warning that unless swift and decisive action is taken, similar violations may persist.
“This is not just about one company,” said a labour rights advocate. “It’s a test of whether the Nigerian government is serious about enforcing its laws or if vested interests will continue to shield violators from accountability.”
