A Nigerian woman has recounted her difficult experience working as a domestic worker in Cairo, Egypt, after travelling from Nigeria in 2016 in search of better opportunities.

Speaking during an interview with content creator Egungun, the woman, now in her early 30s, said she spent about nine years in Egypt, including seven and a half years working as a maid.

She revealed that her experience took a devastating turn after she was involved in an accident that left her with nothing.

‘I Fell From a Nine-Storey Building’

According to the woman, she travelled to Cairo in 2016 because of the difficult financial circumstances of her family.

“I travelled in 2016 to Egypt, Cairo, to do a maid job. I worked for seven years and half. After working for seven years, I had an accident, which made me lose everything I worked for. I fell from a nine-storey building.”

She said the experience of working in some Arab countries could be extremely difficult for migrants, describing the conditions she allegedly encountered as similar to slavery.

“When we leave Nigeria to go to Arab countries, we’re already turned to slaves. The experience is crazy. I didn’t wish to go, but I came from a very poor family background.”

‘Sometimes I Slept on Their Dog’s Bed’

The woman alleged that domestic workers had their passports taken from them after arriving in the country and that the documents were kept until they had settled certain payments.

She said she earned the equivalent of about ₦100,000 monthly at the time and sometimes had to sleep on the floor or on her employer’s dog’s bed.

“They usually treat us like slaves, as if we don’t have anyone. When we get there, they take our passport and seize it till you finish paying. My salary then was ₦100,000 monthly. Sometimes I sleep on their dog’s bed or on the floor.”

She further claimed that her ability to communicate with her family was restricted during the period.

“Over the years, I wasn’t able to talk to my family until I finished settling the payment. After I did, I found out that my mom was sick.”

Family Circumstances Forced Her Abroad

The woman explained that poverty and her family’s financial situation ultimately influenced her decision to travel abroad, despite not wanting to leave Nigeria for domestic work.

Her account offers a personal perspective on the challenges she says she experienced as a migrant domestic worker in Egypt, including alleged poor living conditions, restricted communication with her family and the loss of her savings following the accident.

She spent approximately nine years in Egypt before eventually leaving the country.