The Federal Government of Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have reached an agreement that paves the way for the resumption of travel to the UAE for Nigerian passport holders.
This development comes after successful talks and extensive negotiations between the two governments.
According to a statement by Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, the agreement includes updated controls and conditions to facilitate the obtaining of a UAE visa.
Idris disclosed that the resumption of visas will take effect today, July 15, 2024.
He added that Nigerians wishing to learn more about the updated visa conditions in the UAE can visit http://documentverificationhub.ae for any additional information.
The announcement comes more than two years after the UAE suspended visa issuance to Nigerians following a period of protracted diplomatic row with Africa’s most populous nation.
It also comes about two months after UAE national carrier Emirates Airlines announced the resumption of flights to Nigeria. The airline said in May that its daily Lagos-Dubai flights would resume from October 1, 2024.
Emirates Airlines suspended its Dubai-Lagos flights in 2022 over its inability to repatriate trapped funds in Nigeria in the heat of the diplomatic fireworks between the two countries.
Nigeria and the UAE have a long history of restrictions on flights between both countries based on certain unresolved issues surrounding the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA). Visa restrictions later surfaced as diplomatic fireworks continued between Nigeria and the UAE, which is a top destination for Nigerian migrants and tourists.
In September 2023, President Bola Tinubu met with UAE President, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in Abu Dhabi, to smoothen the rough edges in the diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The statement read, “FG, UAE Reach Agreement on Resumption of Travels for Nigerian Passport Holders
“Following successful talks and extensive, mutually beneficial negotiations between the Government of the United Arab Emirates and the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, an agreement was reached allowing for the resumption of travel to the UAE for Nigerian passport holders.
“This agreement includes updated controls and conditions to facilitate obtaining a UAE visa. “The resumption of visas will be effective from July 15, 2024. Nigerians wishing to learn more about the updated visa conditions from the UAE can visit: http://documentverificationhub.ae for any additional information . #NigeriaUAE #GoodNews”
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