Confusion as UAE denies claim of visa ban lift on Nigeria

The United Arab Emirates has denied the Nigerian Government’s claim that it has lifted a year’s visa ban on Nigerian travellers.

“There have been no changes in the Nigeria/UAE travel status so far,” a Gulf state official told CNN while requesting anonymity since he is not permitted to speak to the media.

Remember that the Government of UAE banned nationals of 20 African countries, including Nigeria, from entering Abu Dhabi, its capital since October 2022. Flights between both countries were also stopped 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.

But amid a diplomatic meeting between President Bola Tinubu and his UAE counterpart in Abu Dhabi on Monday, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, announced that the UAE authority lifted the visa ban placed on Nigerian travellers.

According to Ngelale, the development was part of a historic agreement finalised on Monday, in Abu Dhabi, by President Tinubu and the President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.