The Nigerian government and the United Arab Emirates have reached an agreement allowing Nigerian passport holders to obtain visas for travel to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Nigeria’s Information Minister, Mohammed Idris, disclosed after the cabinet meeting that Nigerian nationals can begin to apply for visas to visit the Arab nation on Monday, July 15.
The UAE’s decision to resume issuing visas to Nigerians comes after a two-year hiatus following diplomatic disputes with Africa’s most populous nation. It also follows Emirates Airlines’ announcement to restart flights to Nigeria, with the carrier indicating the resumption of daily Lagos-Dubai flights from October 1, 2024.
Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, asserted in June that the travel ban on Nigerian travellers would soon be lifted.
It’s been a recurring issue for both countries to restrict flights due to unresolved matters related to the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA), significantly impacting Nigerian tourists who see the UAE as a prime destination.
In September 2023, President Bola Tinubu convened with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi to strengthen the diplomatic ties between the two nations.