President Bola Tinubu has arrived in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates ‘to address specific salient issues within the bilateral relationship’.
In order to settle the diplomatic disagreement with Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu will meet with UAE officials.
Nigerians were subject to a harsh visa embargo by the UAE government in October 2022, shortly after Emirates flights were also canceled.
In a similar manner, Nigerian airline Air Peace, which was also flying to Dubai, terminated its service after the UAE ceased issuing visas to potential tourists.
As a result of its inability to repatriate stuck funds, Emirates had to suspend its trip to Nigeria.
The President demanded that problems affecting relations with Emirates Airline and the issuance of visas to Nigerians be “immediately” resolved when he hosted Salem Saeed Al-Shamsi, the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, at Aso Rock last month, stressing that he stands ready to “personally” intervene.
“We are a family with the UAE, we only live in separate rooms, but we are in the same house. We should look at the issues as a family problem, and resolve it amicably. As you know in every family, there are peculiarities. You can have an erring son, or daughter, but we must work together. We need to agree on core aviation and immigration issues,” the President had said.
On Sunday, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Presidential spokesman, announced that Tinubu would meet UAE authorities over the issue.
“President Bola Tinubu will meet with the leadership of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) during a technical stopover in Abu Dhabi, UAE, after the President’s departure from New Delhi, India.”
“The meeting will serve as a follow-up discussion to address specific, salient issues within the bilateral relationship after conversations held during a recent visit by the UAE Ambassador to the President at the State House in Abuja.
“The President is maximizing the opportunity of the stopover to equally advance his investment promotion objectives with high-level authorities in the public and private sectors of the United Arab Emirates.
“Following a successful investment drive on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit, active participation in the G-20 Summit, and a productive stopover in the UAE, the President is expected to return to Abuja immediately following the bilateral engagement.”