The UAE has officially lifted visa restrictions on Nigerians, effective immediately. This announcement came from the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, following a Federal Executive Council meeting led by President Bola Tinubu.
“The agreement has been reached, and effective from today, Nigerian passport holders intending to travel to the UAE are able to do so,” Idris informed State House correspondents. He further mentioned that Nigerians seeking updated information on UAE visa conditions can visit documentverificationhub.ae.
This development follows extended diplomatic discussions between Nigeria and the UAE, which had imposed a visa ban on Nigeria nearly two years ago due to various diplomatic disputes. Additionally, Emirates Airline had ceased flights to Nigeria after the Central Bank of Nigeria failed to remit an estimated $85 million in revenue to the UAE.
In June, after several meetings with UAE officials, the Nigerian government assured its citizens that the visa ban would be lifted soon. That same month, it was announced that Nigeria had settled 98 percent of the $850 million owed.