Inside Nigeria
Relief As UAE Lifts Visa Ban on Nigerian Travelers, Set to Resume Flight Operations
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria and President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, have finalized a historic agreement, which has resulted in the immediate cessation of the visa ban placed on Nigerian travelers.
The two presidents met on Monday in Abu Dhabi over the historic agreement, as both Etihad Airlines and Emirates Airlines are to immediately resume flight schedules into and out of Nigeria, without any further delay, a statement by Presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale said.
“As negotiated between the two Heads of State, this immediate restoration of flight activity, through these two airlines and between the two countries, does not involve any immediate payment by the Nigerian government.
“In recognition of President Tinubu’s economic development diplomacy drive and proposals today presented by President Tinubu to his counterpart, an agreed framework has been established, which will involve several billions of U.S. dollars worth of new investments into the Nigerian economy across multiple sectors, including defense, agriculture and others, by the investment arms of the Government of the United Arab Emirates.
“Additionally, President Tinubu is pleased to have successfully negotiated a joint, new foreign exchange liquidity programme between the two Governments, which will be announced in detail in the coming weeks”.
Meanwhile, the statement noted that the president commended the UAE President, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, for his unalloyed friendship and his determined effort to join hands with him to fully normalize and reset to excellence, the standard of relations between the two important countries