The Uae Has Abolished Its 21-month-old Restriction On Nigerian Nationals Obtaining Visas

Mohammed Idris, Nigeria’s minister of communications, stated on Monday that “mutually beneficial negotiations” between the two governments led to the UAE’s decision to suspend the ban, which has been in effect since October 2022. “Updated controls and conditions” that prospective Nigerian travelers to the UAE must adhere to were mentioned by him.

Instead, in order to obtain a verification number that would thereafter be needed to apply for a visa, travelers will need to provide documentation demonstrating their identity and travel history, among other things. According to an Emirati official website, applicants who are 13 years of age or younger are eligible for an exception.

The UAE’s prohibition was based on several grounds, such as claims of unethical behavior and attempts to get around visa requirements. When Emirates Airlines’ flights to Nigeria were reduced from 21 times per week to only one, the dispute intensified. It was purportedly done in retribution for the UAE only permitting one weekly trip and refusing to permit Nigerian airline Air Peace to fly to Dubai three times a week.

Due to its incapacity to repatriate earnings worth tens of millions of dollars, Emirates ceased operating flights to Nigeria in late 2022. However, in an attempt to break the deadlock, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu started holding meetings with officials as soon as he took office in May 2023, including the president of Emirati, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.