Muthomi Ireri
The United Arab Emirates has lifted a 21-month visa ban on Nigerian travelers. Nigeria’s Information Minister, Mohammed Idris, announced on Monday that the ban, which had been in place since October 2022, was lifted following “mutually beneficial negotiations” between the two governments. He noted that Nigerian visitors will now need to provide documentation proving their identity and travel history to obtain a visa, with the exception of applicants aged 13 and under.
The visa ban had been imposed due to concerns over visa rule violations and other issues. The situation escalated when Nigeria reduced Emirates Airlines’ flights from 21 per week to just one, in response to the UAE’s refusal to increase the frequency of Nigerian airline Air Peace’s flights to Dubai.
Emirates had suspended its flights to Nigeria in late 2022, citing difficulties in repatriating substantial earnings from the country. However, since President Bola Tinubu took office in May 2023, negotiations with UAE authorities, including Emirati President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, have led to a resolution.
The visa ban’s removal coincides with Emirates’ announcement in May that it will resume daily flights between Lagos and Dubai starting in October. Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ deputy president and chief commercial officer, highlighted the airline’s commitment to offering over 300 tonnes of weekly cargo capacity on these flights, catering to the strong demand for the Lagos-Dubai route.
Dj Vnyash
Silverio Omari
