Nigeria's Aviation Minister Keyamo claims the UAE will soon lift its visa ban on Nigerians, stating formalities are concluded, and an announcement is imminent.
The Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, has revealed that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) government will soon lift the visa ban imposed on Nigerian travelers. According to Keyamo, all necessary formalities have been concluded between the two countries, and it is now up to the UAE government to make the official announcement.
In an interview with the Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu, Otega Ogra, published on the official YouTube page of the State House of Nigeria, Keyamo stated that he is aware of the specific date when the visa ban will be lifted, but it is not his place to make the announcement.
Keyamo added that an agreement was reached between Nigeria and the UAE during a recent visit by President Tinubu to UAE President, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in September 2023. "After that high-level meeting, Mr. President, credited to him, made things very easy for us all. We did our follow-ups as his ministers. We have done everything. We have resolved everything," he said.
The minister further stated, "Just wait for the announcement from the UAE government, and that announcement is imminent."
The UAE had, in 2022, banned about 20 countries, including Nigeria, from traveling to Dubai, leading to a diplomatic row between the two nations. However, President Tinubu, in 2023, visited the country and engaged in diplomatic talks with the country's leaders, paving the way for the resolution of the visa issue.
