Nigerian President Bola Tinubu in a historic move with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has reached an agreement to lift the months-long visa ban on Nigerians.
This development comes after intensive discussions between President Tinubu and his Emirate counterpart, Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in Abu Dhabi on Monday. As a result of this landmark agreement, both Etihad Airlines and Emirates Airlines will promptly resume their flight operations in Nigeria without any further delays.
See Also: Why 539 Nigerians Were Stranded In UAE – NEMA
The President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, announced this positive change, emphasizing the significance of the deal in a statement titled ‘President Tinubu secures landmark deal with United Arab Emirates across sectors; visa ban on Nigerian travelers is lifted immediately.’
This resolution follows nearly a year of the visa ban affecting travelers from Nigeria and other African countries, including Ghana, Sudan, Cameroon, and more. The ban caused a diplomatic dispute between the UAE and Nigeria over flight allocations and travel restrictions.
In response to the news, aviation experts expressed optimism about the future of air travel between the two nations, with hopes of reduced fares and increased competition benefiting Nigerian airlines. Additionally, this development extends beyond Emirates and Etihad Airlines, as it involves other foreign airlines operating in Nigeria.
President Tinubu’s successful negotiations marks a significant step toward reestablishing smooth travel and trade relations between the UAE and Nigeria, signifying a brighter future for both nations’ economic and diplomatic ties.
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