UAE contradicts Nigerian Government, denies visa ban lift
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has contradicted claims by the Nigerian government that it is lifting a year-long visa ban on Nigerian travellers.
An official from the Gulf state told CNN, “There are no changes to the Nigeria/UAE travel status so far.” The source requested anonymity due to a lack of authorization to speak to the media.
The UAE had announced last October that it would no longer issue visas to citizens from Nigeria and 19 other African nations without providing further details.
Obtaining a 30-day tourist visa had been relatively easy until the UAE abruptly stopped issuing these visas to Nigerian nationals.
Flights between both countries were suspended last year after Dubai’s Emirates airline halted operations in Nigeria, citing withheld revenues amounting to $85 million in the country.
Earlier this week, Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu met with UAE leader Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi, where they “finalized a historic agreement,” according to a statement released by the Nigerian government.
The government claimed in the statement that the agreement paved the way for the lifting of the visa ban and the immediate resumption of flights between both countries.
The statement by Nigeria’s presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, also mentioned that both Etihad Airlines and Emirates Airlines would resume flight schedules into and out of Nigeria without further delay.
However, a statement by the UAE government later on Monday said both leaders had “explored opportunities for further bilateral collaboration” with the hope of “reinforcing ties between the UAE and Nigeria” but did not mention lifting the visa ban or restarting flights.
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In a follow-up statement, Nigerian government spokesman Ngelale said officials from both countries needed more time to finalize agreement details, contradicting his earlier statement.
He stated, “Given the agreement struck between the two Heads of State, there is a need to allow cabinet officials from both sides to work out the finer details and finalize the cross-sectoral agreements,” adding that “Everyone can now allow the process to work itself out organically, devoid of speculation.”
There was much jubilation among excited Nigerians when the announcement was made that the visa ban was lifted.
Dubai is a popular destination for thousands of Nigerian tourists and a haven for real-estate investors from the country.
Before the pandemic, Nigerians ranked among Dubai’s largest foreign real-estate investors, with investments valued at nearly $2 billion, according to local media reports citing the Dubai Land Department.
Emirates Airlines operated two daily flights from Lagos, Nigeria, to Dubai, and one daily flight from the capital Abuja to Dubai before the ban.
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