FG gives update on lifting of UAE visa ban on citizens

The Federal Government has said that the United Arab Emirates, UAE, visa ban on Nigerians has been resolved, and an announcement will be made soon.

Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, made this known on Wednesday in a statement released in response to criticism by Osita Chidoka, a former aviation minister.

Keyamo stressed that the announcement of the UAE lifting its visa ban on Nigerians is imminent.

Chidoka, Wednesday, had criticised the announcement of Emirates Airlines’ resumption in Nigeria’s aviation market.

He said the Federal Government must not allow Emirates Airlines to resume operations in Nigeria without being held accountable for their “disrespectful and demeaning conduct”.

However, Keyamo said resolving the diplomatic rift between the two countries is essential because several Nigerians visit the UAE and invest there.

Keyamo said, “Who will benefit more? How many Emiratis visit Nigeria as much as Nigerians visit the UAE and invest there?

“Have you bothered to ask about lifting the visa ban before issuing your warped statement? For your information, that has been resolved, too, and the announcement is imminent.”

Federal Government had made several claims about the UAE lifting the visa ban on Nigerians, which turned out to be inaccurate.

On March 5, the presidency shared a document announcing that the restriction had been lifted. However, Bayo Onanuga, President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, clarified that the Nigerian and UAE governments did not authorise the document.

Similarly, on September 11, the Federal Government also claimed that the UAE had lifted its visa ban on Nigerians.