It Won’t Be Business As Usual – Presidency Gives Update On UAE Visa Ban Lifting

It Won’t Be Business As Usual – Presidency Gives Update On UAE Visa Ban Lifting

“Every agreement comes with mutual responsibility. There is no free lunch. What I mean by that is the notion that floodgates will open up and we go back to business as usual. That is not what Nigerians should expect. I want to be very clear about this so that everybody can understand,” Ngelale said.

Speaking further, he noted that “one of the major challenges of the bilateral relationship with regards to visa applications, visa processing and with respect to Nigerians being able to migrate to the UAE for example, was the fact that there was a laxity on the part of certain visa process or certain applications that were being made that it created a lack of specificity and lack of diligent evaluation with respect to who is travelling to the UAE and why they are travelling.

“And this is why we had issues. Just a few bad eggs among our people giving a bad name to all of us which was a major sticking point as to how we got to this point. So, what we have done as part of this process is to put in place measures to ensure there is effective diligence done on the part of both sides.”

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has lifted the visa ban on Nigerians after nearly one year, following an intervention by President Tinubu in discussions with the UAE leader.

This agreement also includes the immediate resumption of flight schedules for both Etihad Airlines and Emirates Airlines to and from Nigeria.

According to a statement from the Presidency, the reinstatement of flight activities has been arranged in such a way that it does not require an immediate payment from the Nigerian government.