Nigeria, UAE moves to resolve visa issue, as Tinubu meets officials

There are indications that the visa restrictions by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), may soon be resolved as President Bola Tinubu meets officials of the UAE, at the Presidential Villa, at the State House.

BusinessDay gathered on Thursday that the UAE officials are scheduled to meet the President, after which official position will be released on the latest development on the visa row between the two countries.

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Yusuf Tiggar, the minister of foreign affairs, in September, assured that discussions were on between Nigeria and UAE, to resolve the visa and flights issues.

The Minister made the clarification after the UAE officials debunked reports that the UAE had lifted the visa ban, following President Tinubu meeting with UAE’s President, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi

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Recall also that UAE had banned visa issuance to citizens from Nigeria and 19 other African countries, in October, 2022, leading to stoppage of flights between both countries, after Dubai’s Emirates airline suspended its operations in Nigeria citing trapped revenues.

Air Peace that was using the Nigerian BASA slot to UAE also pulled out of the route because of the visa ban.

Villa sources said ” We expect the UAE officials the UAE officials to make a statement on the issue shortly after meeting with President Bola Tinubu later today” .