Nigeria, UAE finalise agreements on visa ban lift

The Nigerian Presidency has announced that cabinet officials from both Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will work together to finalize the terms of the visa ban lift agreement reached during President Bola Tinubu’s meeting with the President of the UAE, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in Abu Dhabi on Monday.

Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Tinubu, shared this information with State House Correspondents on Tuesday. The discussions between the two Heads of State resulted in the immediate suspension of the visa ban that had been placed on Nigerian travelers. As a result, both Etihad and Emirates Airlines are set to resume flight schedules to and from Nigeria without further delay.

In a statement, Ngelale emphasized the need for cabinet officials from both countries to work out the finer details and finalize cross-sectoral agreements, following the agreement reached by the leaders. He called for patience and refraining from speculation, allowing the process to proceed smoothly and without hindrance.

The UAE had imposed a visa ban on nationals from about 20 African countries, including Nigeria, in October 2022. This ban affected various African nations, and travel agents were instructed to reject visa applications from these countries, except for those holding diplomatic passports. The ban had led to a diplomatic dispute between the UAE and Nigeria, with negotiations for its removal ongoing.

Former President Muhammadu Buhari had previously appealed to President Al Nahyan to lift the visa ban in February 2023, but the request was initially declined. The recent meeting between President Tinubu and President Al Nahyan marks a significant step toward normalizing and strengthening relations between the two nations. Tinubu commended Al Nahyan for his commitment to improving relations and cooperation between Nigeria and the UAE.