UAE to announce lifting of visa ban on Nigerians, says Keyamo

The Federal Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has said that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will soon lift the visa ban on Nigerian travellers.

Keyamo reveal this during an interview with Otega Ogra, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu.

According to Keyamo, Tinubu and UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan reached a resolution during Tinubu’s September 2023 working visit to the UAE, where the cessation of the visa ban on Nigerians was discussed.

Keyamo said these processes have now been completed, which makes the announcement of the lifting of the visa ban by the UAE government imminent.

“After that high-level meeting, Mr. President, credited to him, made things very easy for us all. We did our follow-ups as his ministers,” Keyamo said.

“We have done everything. We have resolved everything. Just wait for the announcement from the UAE government, and that announcement is imminent.”

Keyamo added that he is privy to the date when the travel restriction on Nigerians to the UAE will be officially lifted.

He, however, said he would wait for the official announcement to be made by the UAE government.

Tinubu’s working visit to the United Arab Emirates in the fourth quarter of 2023 aimed to resolve several issues between the two countries, including the visa restrictions for Nigerians and the suspension of Emirates Airlines flights to Nigeria.