The Federal Government of Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have resolved their diplomatic differences, leading to the reinstatement of visa services for Nigerian passport holders, effective July 15, 2024. This development comes ahead of Emirates Airlines’ scheduled resumption of Lagos-Dubai flights on October 1, 2024.
According to the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, the agreement was reached following a meeting between President Bola Tinubu and UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi in September 2023.
The diplomatic row had resulted in the suspension of visa issuance to Nigerians and the cessation of Emirates Airlines’ flights to Nigeria in 2022.
The resolution of the diplomatic issues and the reinstatement of visa services are expected to facilitate travel and trade between both nations. The move is seen as a significant step forward in strengthening bilateral relations between Nigeria and the UAE.
