The government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has lifted a visa ban earlier placed on Nigerian travellers.
Announcing the development via a statement on Monday, Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, said President Bola Tinubu and President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of UAE signed the agreement earlier in the day.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on Monday in Abu Dhabi, have finalised a historic agreement, which has resulted in the immediate cessation of the visa ban placed on Nigerian travellers,” the statement read in part.
“Furthermore, by this historic agreement, both Etihad Airlines and Emirates Airlines are to immediately resume flight schedules into and out of Nigeria, without any further delay.
“As negotiated between the two Heads of State, this immediate restoration of flight activity, through these two airlines and between the two countries, does not involve any immediate payment by the Nigerian government.
“Additionally, President Tinubu is pleased to have successfully negotiated a joint, new foreign exchange liquidity programme between the two Governments, which will be announced in detail in the coming weeks.
“In conclusion, the President wishes to commend the UAE President, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, for his unalloyed friendship and his determined effort to join hands with him to fully normalize and reset to excellence, the standard of relations between the two important countries.”
Abike Dabiri, the head of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), revealed a UAE travel ban on Nigerians under 40 in September 2022.
“The UAE government has now introduced a new visa regime and has stopped issuing tourist visas to persons under the age of 40 years, except for those applying for family visas,” Dabiri had stated last year.
“To evade the new visa rules, some applicants request ‘family visas’.
“However, on arrival some travel alone and arrive without family,
so they are turned back from the airport. Also, the UAE authorities demand return ticket, valid 6 month bank account statement and a valid residence address.
“There have been quite a number of Nigerian passengers turned back from the UAE airport in the last few weeks.”
Dabiri had blamed the UAE travel ban on the bad conduct of Nigerians in foreign countries.