Nigerian government officials and their counterparts in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are finalizing agreements on the lifting of the visa ban on Nigerians.
POLITICS NIGERIA recalls that President Bola Tinubu met with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi on Monday to discuss the lifting of the ban.
The ban was imposed by the UAE in October 2022, following a diplomatic dispute between the two countries. The ban affected thousands of Nigerians who regularly travel to the UAE for business, tourism, and leisure.
The two leaders reportedly reached an agreement in principle, and their officials are now working out the details.
A statement from the Nigerian presidency said that the agreement would be finalized “soon.” The statement also said that the UAE would immediately resume flights to Nigeria.
However, despite the said “immediate” agreement, the UAE has yet to make an official statement on the lifting of the visa ban on Nigerians.
The UAE’s silence on the issue has led to speculation that the ban may not have been lifted after all.
However, in an update on Tuesday, the Presidential spokesman, Chief Ajuri Ngelale has said that the two countries are still working out the details of the agreement, and that an official announcement will be made soon.
He said, “Given the agreement struck between the two Heads of State, there is need to allow cabinet officials from both sides to work out the finer details and finalize the cross-sectoral agreements. Everyone can now allow the process to work itself out organically, devoid of speculation.”
