We’ve Not Lifted Visa Ban On Nigeria — UAE

The United Arab Emirates has refuted the Nigerian government’s assertion that it plans to lift the year-long visa ban on Nigerian travelers.

According to an anonymous official from the Gulf state, “There are no changes in the Nigeria/UAE travel status at this time.”

The UAE had previously announced last October that it would cease issuing visas to citizens from Nigeria and 19 other African nations, without offering additional information.

Obtaining a 30-day tourist visa had been relatively straightforward until the UAE suddenly halted visa issuance to Nigerian nationals.

Flights between both countries were stopped last year after Dubai’s Emirates Airline suspended its operations in Nigeria citing trapped revenues.

The carrier said it could not access and repatriate its funds amounting to $85 million withheld in Nigeria.

Earlier this week, Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu met with UAE leader Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi where both men “finalized a historic agreement,” according to a statement released by the Nigerian government.

The government said in the statement that the agreement paved the way for the lifting of the visa ban, including the immediate resumption of flights between both countries.

“Furthermore, by this historic agreement, both Etihad Airlines and Emirates Airlines are to immediately resume flight schedules into and out of Nigeria, without any further delay,” a statement by Nigeria’s presidential spokesman Ajuri Ngelale said.

However, a statement by the UAE government later Monday said both leaders had during the meeting, “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 flights restarting.