The United Arab Emirates has lifted the visa restrictions previously imposed on Nigerians, effective immediately.
This announcement was made by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, to State House correspondents on Monday following the Federal Executive Council meeting led by President Bola Tinubu.
Idris stated that the Federal Government and UAE authorities reached an agreement to lift the travel restrictions on Nigerians immediately.
He confirmed that Nigerian passport holders can now travel to the UAE without any hindrance.
“Effective from today, July 15, Nigerian passport holders intending to travel to the UAE can do so without any restrictions,” said Idris.
It is worth noting that the UAE had imposed the visa ban due to several diplomatic disputes, including issues related to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) inability to remit approximately $85 million in revenue to Dubai’s Emirates airline, leading to the suspension of flight operations to Nigeria.
In June, after a series of discussions with UAE officials, the Federal Government assured Nigerians that the visa ban would soon be lifted. The government also announced that it had settled 98 percent of the $850 million owed.
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