At Last, UAE Visa Ban on Nigeria Lifted

The UAE visa ban on Nigeria has been lifted.

Newsone Nigeria reports that the United Arab Emirates Government has finally lifted visa restrictions imposed on Nigerians with immediate effect.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made this known to State House correspondents on Monday after the Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu.

Idris said the Federal Government and the UAE authorities have agreed to vacate travel restrictions imposed on Nigerians immediately.

The minister revealed that Nigerian passport holders can now travel to the UAE without any hindrance.

He said, “I can tell you that the agreement has been reached and effective from today, Nigerian passport holders intending to travel to the UAE are able to do so.

“You are aware that Nigeria has been discussing with the United Arab Emirates the issue of visas for Nigerian passport holders going to the United Arab Emirates.

“Today, an agreement has been reached on that, and effective from today 15th July, Nigerian passport holders are able to obtain visas to go to the United Arab Emirates.

“Details of that will be provided to you later today when we put out a statement.”

Newsone recalls that the UAE imposed the visa ban on Nigeria in connection with several diplomatic disputes.

Dubai’s Emirates airline also suspended flight operations to Nigeria over the CBN’s inability to send the UAE an estimated $85 million in revenue.

After a series of meetings with the government of the United Arab Emirates in June, the Federal government assured Nigerians that the visa ban would soon be lifted.

The Nigerian government announced it had paid 98 percent of $850m in the same month.