UAE lifts visa ban on Nigerians

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, have successfully concluded negotiations that have led to the immediate cessation of the visa ban imposed on Nigerian travelers in Abu Dhabi.

Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, shared this significant news in a statement released on Monday.

As part of this groundbreaking agreement, both governments have secured the resumption of flight operations for Etihad Airlines and Emirates Airlines to and from Nigeria without any further delay.

Crucially, this restoration of flight activity comes with no immediate financial burden on the Nigerian government, as President Tinubu’s economic development diplomacy drive and proposals have paved the way for several billion U.S. dollars’ worth of new investments in Nigeria’s diverse sectors. These investments encompass areas such as defense, agriculture, and more, facilitated by the investment arms of the UAE government.

President Tinubu has successfully negotiated a joint foreign exchange liquidity program between the two nations, the details of which will be announced in the coming weeks.

“In recognition of President Tinubu’s economic development diplomacy drive and the proposals today presented by President Tinubu to his counterpart, an agreed framework has been established, which will involve several billions of U.S. dollars worth of new investments into the Nigerian economy across multiple sectors, including defence, agriculture, and others, by the investment arms of the Government of the United Arab Emirates.

“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 normalise and reset the standard of relations between the two important countries to excellence,” the statement reads.