The Federal Government of Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have reached an agreement to lift the travel ban imposed on Nigerians, effective from July 15, 2024.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this while addressing State House correspondents on Monday after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
He said, “Today an agreement has been reached with the UAE effective from today July 15, Nigerian passport holders intending to travel to UAE can do so.”
Recall that the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, assured that the UAE government would lift the visa ban imposed on Nigerian travellers soon.
He ssid, a resolution was reached between President Bola Tinubu and UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan during Tinubu’s visit to the UAE in September 2023.
“After that high-level meeting, Mr. President, credited to him, made things very easy for us all. We did our follow-ups as his ministers. We have done everything. We have resolved everything. Just wait for the announcement from the UAE government, and that announcement is imminent,” Keyamo stated.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has imposed a visa ban on Nigerian travelers since October 2022, restricting them from entering the country.
The visa restriction was part of a diplomatic dispute that has been ongoing between Nigeria and the UAE for over 18 months.
However, the lifting of the ban is expected to restore ease of travel for Nigerians to the UAE, and also enhance bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries.
