After two years, the government of the United Arab Emirates, UAE, has finally lifted visa restrictions imposed on Nigerians with immediate effect.
Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr. Mohammed Idris, broke the good news, on Monday, while addressing State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council, FEC.
The meeting was presided by President Bola Tinubu.
According to the Minister, the Federal Government and the UAE authorities have agreed to vacate travel restrictions imposed on Nigerians with immediate effect.
The implication of the action, said Mr. Mohammed Idris, is that Nigerian passport holders can now travel to the UAE without any hindrance. He told Nigerians seeking information on the updated UAE visa conditions to visit documentverificationhub.ae for further details.
“I can tell you that the agreement has been reached,” the Minister announced, “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, (2024) 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.”
The Crest recalls that the UAE imposed the visa ban on Nigerians sequel to a series of diplomatic rows.
It didn’t stop there. Emirates Airline also halted flights from Dubai to Nigeria citing their inability to remit an estimated $85 million in revenue to the UAE.
But in June, and following several meetings with the UAE government, the Federal Government assured Nigerians that the visa ban would soon be lifted.
During the same month, the Nigerian government also announced that it had paid 98 percent of $850 million.
The development will surely delight Nigerians living in Dubai or doing business in the UAE who have had to endure untold hardship these past two years owing to the visa restrictions as well as suspension of flights between the UAE and Nigeria by Emirates Airline.