The Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa has visited the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Salem Saeed Al-Shamsi to further strengthen areas of partnership and collaboration mutually beneficial to both countries.
The visit came on Wednesday following the removal of visa ban by the UAE on Nigeria, Dabiri-Erewa stated that NiDCOM intends to engage and sensitize Nigerians in the UAE to be good ambassadors of the country of stay and country of origin.
According to the statement released by the Commission, She stated further the initiative is also to sensitize Nigerians abroad also to excel in whatever they are doing and never to forget home and also aims to foster better understanding and compliance with local regulations”.
NIDCOM Boss disclosed that 190 Nigerians were repatriated to Nigeria, with an additional 250 expected to return soon while noted that the actions of individuals in a host country can greatly impact the overall image of their home country. 
She also noted the role of Western media imperialism in perpetuating negative stereotypes about Nigerians.
Amb. Salem Saeed Al-Shamsi explained that the visa ban on Nigeria has been officially lifted. He confirmed that the Visa on Arrival policy has been canceled for all countries, but assured that the new procedures are designed to facilitate tourism and ensure travelers’ safe return.
The Ambassador expressed his commitment to providing the best possible services for Nigerians, with the support of determined Nigerian government while acknowledged the UAE’s role in safely repatriating 96 Nigerians at no cost.
Marking his one-year anniversary as the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Al-Shamsi shared his positive impressions of Nigeria, describing it as a beautiful country with warm-hearted people who share similar cultural, religious, and ethnic backgrounds with the UAE.
He expressed his eagerness to continue collaborating with NiDCOM to strengthen ties between the two countries.
