In a significant stride towards bilateral relations, the Nigerian Presidency has confirmed that officials from the Federal Government and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are poised to conclude discussions on the purported removal of the visa ban on Nigerians.

The breakthrough was announced following a meeting between President Bola Tinubu and his UAE counterpart, Sheik Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on Monday, September 11, 2023. Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Assistant to President Tinubu on Media and Publicity, stated that the two leaders had "finalised a historic agreement, which has resulted in the immediate cessation of the visa ban placed on Nigerian travellers."

While the UAE's official statement did not explicitly confirm or deny lifting the travel ban, it emphasised a commitment to strengthening ties and exploring opportunities for bilateral collaboration. The statement read, "The two leaders will work together to reinforce ties between the UAE and Nigeria for the benefit of both countries... Explored opportunities for further bilateral collaboration in areas that serve both countries’ sustainable economic growth, including the economic, development, energy, and climate action fields."

Addressing the matter on Tuesday, Ngelale underscored the importance of allowing officials from both nations to iron out the finer details for a smooth agreement implementation. He stated, "Given the agreement between the two Heads of State, there is a need to allow cabinet officials from both sides to work out the finer details and finalise the cross-sectoral agreements. Everyone can now allow the process to work out organically without speculation."

Recall that in October 2022, the UAE suspended the issuance of visas to Nigerians, which subsequently led to the suspension of operations by Emirates, the country’s leading airline, in Nigeria. This recent development signifies a positive step towards re-establishing seamless travel between the two nations and enhancing diplomatic ties.