The United Arab Emirates (UAE) government has not lifted the Visa ban on Nigerian travellers. This was disclosed by an official from the Gulf state, according to CNN reports.
The statement contradicts the claim by the government of Nigeria that the visa ban imposed on Nigerian travellers had been lifted early this week.
“There are no changes on the Nigeria/UAE travel status so far,” the official, who requested to be anonymous, said.
Nigeria’s presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, had stated this week that the visa ban was lifted following President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s meeting with the President of the UAE, Sheik Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on Monday.
Recall that President Tinubu had visited the UAE capital, Abu Dahbi, with plans to resolve the visa ban after attending the G-20 Summit in India.
In the statement released by the Nigerian government, Ajuri said, “President Bola Tinubu and President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on Monday in Abu Dhabi, have finalised a historic agreement, which has resulted in the immediate cessation of the visa ban placed on Nigerian travellers.
“Furthermore, by this historic agreement, both Etihad Airlines and Emirates Airlines are to immediately resume flight schedules into and out of Nigeria, without any further delay.”
The investment arms of the Government of the United Arab Emirates also agreed on a framework to establish new investments into the Nigerian economy across multiple sectors, including defense, agriculture and others.
Aside the visa ban, President Tinubu was said to have successfully negotiated a joint, new foreign exchange liquidity programme between Nigeria and Abu Dhabi, which would be announced in detail in the coming weeks.
The President commended the UAE President, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, for his unalloyed friendship and determined effort to join hands to fully normalise the standard of relations between the two nations.