Following a meeting between President Bola Tinubu and his UAE counterpart, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Monday lifted its visa ban on Nigerians.

In addition, he directed that flights on Emirates and Etihad Airlines into and out of Nigeria resume immediately, without further delay.

Recall that in October 2022, the UAE banned about 20 African countries from entering its borders.

“This is to inform you that we will not be posting 30 days visa applications for these nationalities effective today, October 18, 2022.

Any applications from the above-mentioned countries will be sent back or cancelled,” the notice read. The ban does not affect persons holding diplomatic passports.

However, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, in a statement on Monday revealed that the ban has been lifted with immediate effect.

He said, “As negotiated between the two heads of state, this immediate restoration of flight activity through these two airlines and between the two countries, does not involve any immediate payment by the Nigerian government.

“In recognition of President Tinubu’s economic development diplomacy drive and proposals today (yesterday) presented by President Tinubu to his counterpart, an agreed framework has been established, which will involve several billions of U.S. dollars worth of new investments into the Nigerian economy across multiple sectors, including defense, agriculture and others, by the investment arms of the government of the United Arab Emirates.

“Additionally, President Tinubu is pleased to have successfully negotiated a joint, new foreign exchange liquidity programme between the two governments, which will be announced in detail in the coming weeks.

“The President wishes to commend the UAE President, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, for his unalloyed friendship and determined effort to join hands with him to fully normalize and reset to excellence the standard of relations between the two countries.”