The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has reportedly lifted its year-long visa ban on Nigeria. This news follows a period of diplomatic friction and crucial meetings between Nigerian President Bola Tinubu and UAE leader Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The October 2022 visa ban severely impacted Nigerians hoping to travel to the UAE for business, tourism, or family visits. The move faced strong criticism, with many urging a swift resolution.
A statement from the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, suggests a brighter future for the two nations. “The UAE is considered as a very important partner in Nigeria. Nigerians have a lot of stakes in the UAE with a lot of investments. What we are doing is to make sure that we make it easy for millions of Nigerians who have put a lot of pressure on us to ensure that we open up this route again,” Keyamo said.
The UAE has not yet officially confirmed the lifting of the ban, but Nigerian authorities are confident that visa applications from Nigerians will now be processed. According to Keyamo, “The issue of visa has been resolved, just the announcement remains. They want to dot the I’s and cross the T’s. The announcement will be made in a couple of weeks.”
The lifting of the visa ban is a significant victory for Nigerians who have been eagerly awaiting this news. It opens doors for renewed collaboration and increased economic opportunities between Nigeria and the UAE.
—Ezinwanne Onwuka reports for TruthNigeria from Abuja.
