Following the lifting of the visa ban on Nigeria, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Government has increased its visa fees by over 300 percent, sparking outrage among Nigerian air travelers.
At the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, traveler Rose Aikigbe expressed frustration: “This clearly indicates that the UAE government doesn’t want Nigerians in their country. How much does the United Kingdom charge? Why is the amount so exorbitant? The Nigerian government needs to engage with the UAE to address this hike.”
Adejare Adebukola, a father of three with two children hoping to study in Dubai, also urged the government to intervene: “If the government doesn’t address this hike and the UAE remains adamant, my children will have to reconsider their dreams of studying in Dubai.”
On social media platform X, user @Enokeran2016 commented, “Do you think the constant solicitation from the Nigerian government was for ordinary Nigerians? It seems to primarily benefit wealthy individuals and politicians seeking a haven for their ill-gotten wealth.”
Another user, NEFERTITI (@firstladyship), stated, “It’s clear the UAE doesn’t want Nigerians. They reluctantly lifted the ban but imposed a hefty N640,000 fee. The money is nonrefundable and has an expiration date. This is disrespectful.”
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, announced the lifting of the ban while briefing State House correspondents on Monday after a Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu. Idris confirmed that Nigerian passport holders could now travel to the UAE without hindrance and directed those seeking information on the updated UAE visa conditions to visit documentverificationhub.ae.
He stated, “An agreement has been reached, and effective immediately, Nigerian passport holders intending to travel to the UAE can do so.”
Our correspondent observed on the United Arab Emirates document verification website that applicants are now required to pay N640,000 as a non-refundable application fee for visas. Before the ban, the fee was $100, equivalent to N155,500 at the exchange rate of N1,555/$.
The increase to N640,000 represents a 311.58 percent hike. This fee does not guarantee a visa, as the issued Document Verification Number is only valid for 14 days or until the visa application is processed.
The UAE had previously imposed the visa ban on Nigeria due to several diplomatic disputes. Additionally, Dubai’s Emirates Airline halted flights to Nigeria because the Central Bank of Nigeria couldn’t remit an estimated $85 million in revenue to the UAE.
In June, following several meetings with the UAE government, the Federal Government assured Nigerians that the visa ban would soon be lifted. During the same month, the Nigerian government announced that it had paid 98 percent of $850 million owed.
Punch