Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga has clarified that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is yet to resume visa issuance to Nigerians.
This is coming after Onanuga misled several Nigerians by sharing a document on Tuesday, February 5, announcing resumption of visa services to Nigerians effective from March 4.
“UAE resumes visa services for Nigerians, the fruit of President Bola Tinubu’s diplomacy” his caption reads.
On Tuesday evening, Onanuga on his X handle retracted the statement, saying the document circulating online claiming the ban had been lifted “was not authorized by either the Nigerian or the UAE governments.”
The UAE had imposed a visa ban on Nigeria and 19 other African countries in October 2022, citing security reasons. The ban affected all categories of visas, including tourist, transit, and work visas.
The ban also caused a diplomatic rift between the two countries, as the Nigerian government protested the move and demanded an explanation from the UAE authorities.
The UAE is a popular destination for many Nigerians, especially for business, tourism, and education. The ban has affected the travel plans of many Nigerians, as well as the bilateral relations between the two countries.
The presidency said it was still in talks with the UAE to resolve the issue and restore normal visa operations for Nigerians.
The news of the ban came as a surprise to many Nigerians, especially after President Bola Tinubu met with the UAE’s Crown Prince, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on the sidelines of the COP28 climate summit in Dubai in December 2023.
The two leaders had discussed ways to strengthen cooperation and partnership in various fields, including trade, investment, energy, and security, according to a statement from the UAE Presidential Court.
The statement also said that the UAE had pledged to support Nigeria’s efforts to combat terrorism and promote peace and stability in the region.
