The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has officially lifted the visa ban that had been imposed on Nigerian travelers for nearly a year.
This momentous decision comes as a result of a historic agreement forged during a meeting between President Bola Tinubu and the President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, which took place on Monday.
The announcement was made through a statement released by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale.
According to the statement, the historic agreement paves the way for both Etihad Airlines and Emirates Airlines to promptly resume their flight schedules to and from Nigeria. Notably, this restoration of flight activities does not entail any immediate financial obligation on the part of the Nigerian government.
President Bola Tinubu and President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan during their Monday meeting were pivotal in achieving this positive outcome.
The statement highlights that as a result of President Tinubu’s commitment to economic development diplomacy and the proposals he presented to his counterpart, a comprehensive framework has been established.
This framework involves substantial investments, valued at several billions of U.S. dollars, flowing into the Nigerian economy across various sectors, including defense and agriculture. These investments will be facilitated by the investment arms of the Government of the United Arab Emirates.
Furthermore, President Tinubu successfully negotiated a joint foreign exchange liquidity program between the two governments, which is poised to be unveiled in greater detail in the upcoming weeks.
In his remarks, President Tinubu expressed his appreciation for the UAE President, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, recognizing his unwavering friendship and determined efforts to collaboratively normalize and enhance the standard of relations between these two significant nations.
This positive development comes after the UAE’s decision, in October of last year, to impose a ban on the entry of nationals from approximately 20 African countries, including Nigeria, into its capital city, Dubai. The lifting of this ban marks a crucial milestone in restoring travel and diplomatic relations between the UAE and Nigeria.
