According to the Presidency, agreements on the lifting of the visa ban are nearing completion between Nigerian and United Arab Emirates (UAE) government authorities.
The UAE’s Sheik Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and President Bola Tinubu had a meeting to try to resolve their diplomatic disagreement.
In October of last year, the UAE’s government stopped issuing visas to Nigerians, and its two largest airlines, Etihad and Emirates, stopped flying to Nigeria.
The changes had an impact on the activities of Nigerians who frequently traveled to the Middle Eastern nation for business, tourism, and pleasure.
When Salem Saeed Al-Shamsi, the designate ambassador of the UAE to Nigeria, handed Tinubu his Letter of Credence at Aso Rock last month, Tinubu gave the order for the situation to be resolved right away.
According to a Platinum Times article, Tinubu traveled from India, where he attended the G-20 Summit, to Abu Dahbi, the capital of the UAE.
The meeting with the UAE authorities was successful, according to a statement released on Monday by the presidential spokesman, Chief Ajuri Ngelale.
Ngelale claimed that the restriction was instantly lifted and that both Etihad Airlines and Emirates Airlines would immediately start operations.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on Monday in Abu Dhabi, have finalized a historic agreement, which has resulted in the immediate cessation of the visa ban placed on Nigerian travelers.”
“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,” he had said.
Surprisingly, the UAE authorities’ statement on the meeting made no mention of the removal of the prohibition.
The meeting took place at Qasr Al Shati in Abu Dhabi, according to Emirates News Agency, which reported that Nahyan once again congratulated Tinubu on assuming the presidency and wished him luck in guiding Nigeria and its people to further development and prosperity.
Nigerians had reacted differently to the UAE’s silence over the lifting of the visa ban.
However, Tuesday, Ngelale clarified the situation further by saying,
“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.”