UAE Lifts 21-Month Visa Ban on Nigerian Citizens Following Diplomatic Negotiations

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has officially lifted a 21-month visa ban on Nigerian citizens, which had been in effect since October 2022. Nigeria’s Information Minister, Mohammed Idris, announced on Monday that the decision was the result of “mutually beneficial negotiations” between the two governments. The agreement includes new “updated controls and conditions” that Nigerian visitors must adhere to when applying for visas.

Under the new regulations, prospective Nigerian travellers will need to submit documents verifying their identity and travel history, among other requirements, to obtain a verification number necessary for the visa application process. However, children aged 13 and younger are exempt from these requirements, according to the Emirati government’s website.

The original visa ban was instituted due to multiple factors, including allegations of improper conduct and attempts to bypass visa regulations by Nigerian citizens. Tensions escalated when the Nigerian government reduced Emirates Airlines’ flights to Nigeria from 21 flights per week to just one, in response to the UAE allowing Nigerian airline Air Peace only one weekly flight to Dubai instead of the requested three.

Emirates Airlines halted its flight operations to Nigeria in late 2022, citing an inability to repatriate millions of dollars in earnings from the country. However, diplomatic efforts to resolve the dispute began when Nigerian President Bola Tinubu took office in May 2023. President Tinubu engaged in talks with various authorities, including Emirati President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to address the situation.

The ban’s lifting follows Emirates Airlines’ announcement in May that it plans to resume daily flights between Lagos and Dubai starting in October. Adnan Kazim, Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer for Emirates, highlighted the popularity of the Lagos-Dubai route among Nigerian travellers. He also mentioned that the resumed service will offer “more than 300 tonnes” of weekly cargo capacity in the aircraft’s lower deck, catering to the demand for cargo transport between the two cities.

Main Image: ICP Smart Service