UAE’s foreign ministry fails to confirm visa ban removal announced by Nigerian govt

In a surprising turn of events, the UAE’s foreign ministry has failed to confirm the visa ban removal announced by the Nigerian government. This is coming after the Nigerian government proclaimed a historic agreement between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, leading to an immediate suspension of the visa ban on Nigerian citizens.

BusinessDay’s report demonstrates that the UAE’s official statement omitted any mention of lifting the visa ban on Nigeria, and this has raised questions about the accuracy and transparency of the announcement made by Nigerian authorities.

As both countries continue to navigate this diplomatic matter, it remains to be seen how this contradiction will be resolved and what implications it may have for the relationship between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates.

Additionally, the statement issued by Ajuri Ngelale, who serves as the Special Adviser to President Tinubu for Media and publicity, declared that, following the historic agreement, both Etihad Airlines and Emirates Airlines would promptly recommence their flight operations to and from Nigeria without any additional hindrances.

However, the statement released by the UAE embassy contained no reference to the removal of the Dubai visa ban or the resumption of flight services by either Emirates or Etihad Airlines.

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The visa ban on Nigerian travellers by UAE

The visa ban on Nigerians travelling to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was initially imposed due to concerns over security and immigration-related issues. In March 2019, the UAE announced a suspension of the issuance of visas to Nigerian citizens, citing reasons such as the detection of fraudulent travel documents and increased security risks. These concerns were associated with illegal activities, including human trafficking and using fake documents for travel purposes.

It is important to note that travel bans can be implemented by countries to address various issues, including security, immigration, and diplomatic matters. In the case of the UAE, the ban on Nigerian travellers was a response to perceived security and immigration challenges, which were eventually addressed through diplomatic negotiations and agreements, leading to the lifting of the ban.

According to the UAE embassy’s statement, the meeting between Nigerian President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and UAE President, Sheik Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Monday, primarily focused on the upcoming COP28 climate conference, scheduled to be held in the UAE later this year. During the meeting, both leaders emphasized the crucial significance of fostering and facilitating international collaboration to address pressing global challenges, particularly the issue of climate change.

This highlights the commitment of both Nigeria and the UAE to engage in international cooperation to address environmental issues and promote sustainability on a global scale.

“His Highness expressed his hope that the two leaders will work together to reinforce ties between the UAE and Nigeria for the benefit of both countries.

“The UAE President and Nigerian President explored opportunities for further bilateral collaboration in areas that serve both countries’ sustainable economic growth, including the economic, development, energy, and climate action fields.

“The two sides also exchanged views on several regional and international developments of interest,” the UAE statement read.

Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan reiterated the UAE’s enduring dedication to strengthening connections with nations that share similar goals of achieving stability, sustainable progress, and the well-being of their citizens. He also highlighted the significance of the UAE’s relationship with Nigeria as a key component of its strategic vision for engaging with the African continent.

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