UAE Official Contradicts Nigeria Govt, Says Visa Restrictions Not Lifted

• Kazeem Badmus

An official of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Friday contradicted claims by the Nigerian government that it is to lift a year-long visa ban on Nigerian travellers.

The official from the Gulf state told CNN “There are no changes on the Nigeria/UAE travel status so far.”

The official asked not to be named because he is not authorised to speak to the media.

OSUN DEFENDER reports that the UAE last October, said in a notice that it will no longer issue visas to citizens from Nigeria and 19 other African nations.

However, 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.

A statement by Nigeria’s presidential spokesman Ajuri Ngelale said, “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.”

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.