Drama As Tinubu Presidency Makes U-turn Over UAE Lifted Visa Restriction On Nigerians
The Nigerian Presidency on Tuesday denied that the United Arab Emirates has lifted its visa ban on Nigerians.
The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this via his X handle on Tuesday.
“UAE has not resumed visa issuance to Nigerians. The document in circulation is not authorised either by the Nigerian government or the UAE,” he wrote.
Onanuga a few hours earlier shared a document stating that the UAE had lifted its visa ban on Nigerians after two years of diplomatic row.
In the viral document shared by Onanuga, it was noted that the UAE had declared the resumption of visa services for Nigerian citizens intending to visit the country starting March 4, 2024.
It has been about two years since the Dubai government imposed visa restrictions on Nigerians.
UAE imposed restrictions on Nigerians in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the behaviour of some nationals of other countries. Nigeria and UAE have also had a diplomatic row involving flight allocations.
The Middle Eastern country subsequently imposed travel restrictions on nationals of some 20 African countries including Nigeria.
