In a significant development, the United Arab Emirates has announced the lifting of the visa ban for Nigerian citizens, effective immediately. This follows recent negotiations and an agreement reached between the governments of Nigeria and the UAE.
Under the new policy, Nigerian passport holders will now be able to apply for visas to travel to the UAE. This marks a significant breakthrough after years of visa restrictions that had strained the relationship between the two nations.
The UAE’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, stated, “This decision reflects the UAE’s commitment to building bridges of communication and cooperation with the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We believe this new visa policy will boost tourism, trade, and cultural exchanges between our countries.”
Likewise, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, welcomed the move, saying, “This is a positive development that will strengthen the long-standing ties between Nigeria and the UAE. We are grateful for the UAE’s constructive engagement, and we look forward to deepening our bilateral cooperation across various sectors.”
The lifting of the visa ban is expected to significantly ease travel and business between Nigeria and the UAE, which is home to a large Nigerian expatriate community. Industry experts anticipate an increase in tourism, investments, and cultural exchanges as a result of this policy change.
Both governments have pledged to work closely to ensure a smooth implementation of the new visa regime and to explore further avenues for expanding the Nigeria-UAE partnership in the years ahead.