The UAE government has started issuing visas for Nigerians after a halt of nearly two years. This resumption follows an agreement between the governments of the UAE and Nigeria to renew travel between the two countries, as announced by Nigeria’s information minister on the social messaging platform X.
In 2022, the UAE had stopped issuing visas to Nigerians after Dubai’s Emirates airline suspended flights to Nigeria due to delayed repatriation of funds from ticket sales. The suspension caused significant disruption for travelers and businesses reliant on the route.
The renewed agreement includes updated controls and conditions to facilitate obtaining a UAE visa. UAE information minister Mohammed Idris confirmed that the resumption of visas will be effective from Monday this week.
Additionally, the central bank of Nigeria has cleared a backlog of $137 million in foreign exchange owed to international airlines by January 2024. This financial clearance has paved the way for Emirates to resume its flights to Nigeria, with a daily service between Lagos and Dubai commencing in May, ending a two-year flight halt.
This development marks a significant improvement in the bilateral relations between the UAE and Nigeria and is expected to boost tourism, business, and cultural exchanges between the two nations.
