UAE Lifts Visa Ban On Nigerian Travelers

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) lifted the visa ban on Nigerians, the minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, announced Monday.

The announcement was made after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Monday with State House Correspondents.

"You are aware that Nigeria has been discussing with the United Arab Emirates on the issue of visas for Nigerian passport holders going to the United Arab Emirates," he said, Premium Times reported.

"Today, an agreement has been reached on that, and effective from today July 15, Nigerian passport holders are able to obtain a Visa to go to the United Arab Emirates. I can tell you that the agreement has been reached and effective from today, Nigerian passport holders intending to travel to the UAE are able to do so."

The UAE had imposed a travel ban on passengers from Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo due to a rise in COVID-19 cases from travelers from these countries on Dec. 13, 2021.

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo last month suggested that the visa restriction on Nigerians would be lifted soon. He mentioned that Nigeria has complied with all requirements to address the reasons for the ban.

"We have done everything. We have resolved everything. Just wait for the announcement from the UAE government, and that announcement is imminent. They would announce... I want to give it to them to announce the date," he said.

Aside from the COVID-19 pandemic, several diplomatic disputes between the two countries had also become reasons behind the visa ban on Nigeria. Furthermore, Emirates Airline stopped flights to Nigeria because the Central Bank of Nigeria was unable to transfer around $85 million in revenue to the UAE.

Last year, Keyamo assured that the government was working towards resolving trapped funds issues of UAE airlines. He noted that the airline's operation between the UAE and Nigeria was crucial.

He also shared that the President of Nigeria Bola Ahmed Tinubu was "very concerned" about the trapped funds and this was one of the reasons why he visited the UAE in person, after attending the G20 summit in India.