The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is yet to resume visa services for Nigerian citizens wishing to visit the Asian country. Several news outlets had reported that UAE, on March 4 this year, lifted the visa restriction on Nigerian travellers.
But Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, refuted the viral statement in an update on his X (formerly Twitter) page, yesterday.
In October 2022, the UAE implemented a ban on citizens from approximately 20 African nations from entering its borders. The affected countries include Nigeria, Uganda, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Cameroon, Liberia, Burundi, Republic of Guinea, Gambia, Togo and Democratic Republic of Congo.
Others are Senegal, Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Congo, Rwanda, Burkina Faso, Guinea Bissau, Comoros and the Dominican Republic. The Emirati authorities issued a notice to trade partners and travel agents, instructing them to reject all applications.
Since the ban, UAE and Nigeria have been embroiled in a diplomatic dispute concerning flight allocations and travel restrictions.
Reacting yesterday, Onanuga stated: “UAE has not resumed visa issuance to Nigerians. The document in circulation is not authorised either by the Nigerian government or the UAE.
A purported joint statement by both nations titled, ‘Resumption of Visa Services for Nigerians Travelling to the UAE’, had reportedly said the ban was lifted on March 4, 2024.
It had claimed that the ‘commencement of visa issuance’ was a “milestone, reflecting the successful outcome of in-depth talks between the two nations and underscoring: “Our shared commitment to strengthening ties, enhancing cultural exchanges and fostering opportunities for economic and social collaborations.”
It had equally quoted the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Saleem Saeed Al-Shamsi as underscoring the importance of the updated procedure.
