The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has agreed to begin issuing visas to Nigerians as the Visa ban has been lifted. This was announced by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, while briefing State House Correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Monday.
According to him, the UAE will begin issuing visas to Nigerians effective July 15th. He said:
“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.
“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,” Mr Idris said.
The United Arab Emirates issued a visa ban on 13th December 2021 to passengers from Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo, citing a surge in the countries’ COVID-19 from passengers of the two nations and due to other diplomatic disputes.
Additionally, Dubai’s Emirates Airline halted flights to Nigeria because the Central Bank of Nigeria couldn’t remit an estimated $85m in revenue to the UAE.
Festus Keyamo the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development had earlier in June, hinted that the visa restriction on Nigerians would soon be lifted, stating that the country had observed all protocols to facilitate 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.
The announcement was received in excitement by Nigerians who took to social media to applaud the efforts of the government in lifting the ban.
