The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, announced that the longstanding visa dispute between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been successfully settled.
As a result, the UAE government will soon lift the travel restrictions that had prevented Nigerians from visiting Dubai and other UAE destinations.
Keyamo made this significant disclosure during a welcome dinner for delegates attending the International Air Transport Association’s 80th Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit in Dubai.
The UAE had previously imposed a visa ban on Nigeria due to diplomatic disagreements.
President Bola Tinubu’s intervention in August 2023 played a crucial role in resolving the dispute.
The face-off also involved Emirates Airlines, which had suspended flights to Nigeria.
At the AGM, where more than 2000 delegates were present, Keyamo received a warm welcome as he entered the hall alongside Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum.
Speaking to journalists during the event, Keyamo confirmed that the issues related to visa denial had been addressed. The final step involves fine-tuning the processes to lift the visa ban.
He stated, “The visa matter has been resolved; only the official announcement remains. They are crossing their T’s and dotting their I’s. Expect the announcement within the next couple of weeks.”
Keyamo emphasized that his visit to Dubai aimed to strengthen cordial relationships between Nigeria and other nations. He acknowledged the UAE’s importance as a partner and expressed gratitude for their renewed trust in Nigeria.
He said, “The UAE is considered as a very important partner in Nigeria. Nigerians have a lot of stakes here in the UAE with a lot of investments. What we are doing is to make sure that we make it easy for millions of Nigerians who have put a lot of pressure on us to ensure that we open up this route again and secondly to make the visa application easier. I am sure you can see the way I was received here. That is to tell you how they value Nigeria.”
“I was on the same ride with the ruler of Dubai, the Minister and the head of Emirates Group and all the top shots of Emirates. There was no other person given that privilege here; that is to tell you how much they value us and they want Nigeria to see it in that light. They have opened up again to us. They have started to trust us again and I want to say thank you to them. I will take it from here on.”
