Adeyemi Matthew
Nigerian citizens are now eligible to apply for visas to the United Arab Emirates, according to a recent announcement by the Minister.
The Federal Government has reached an accord with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to facilitate the issuance of visas for Nigerian passport holders seeking to travel to the Arab nation, effective July 15, 2024.
The Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, revealed this
on Monday during a press briefing with State House correspondents after the
weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.
The announcement arrives more than two years after the
United Arab Emirates suspended visa issuance to Nigerians following a prolonged
period of diplomatic tension with Africa’s most populous nation.
In addition, this development occurs approximately two
months after the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates, Emirates
Airlines, made an announcement regarding the resumption of flights to Nigeria.
In May, the airline indicated that its daily flights between Lagos and Dubai
would recommence from October 1, 2024.
Emirates Airlines temporarily halted its Dubai-Lagos flights
in 2022 due to challenges in repatriating accumulated funds from Nigeria,
amidst diplomatic tensions between the two nations.
There is a long-standing history of flight restrictions
between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) due to unresolved issues
related to the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA). Subsequently, visa
restrictions were imposed as diplomatic tensions escalated between the two
countries. The UAE is a popular destination for Nigerian migrants and tourists.
In September 2023, President Bola Tinubu engaged in a
diplomatic meeting with UAE President, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in Abu
Dhabi. The purpose of this meeting was to address and resolve any existing
challenges or tensions in the diplomatic relations between the two nations.