Nigerians have showered encomium to the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu over his resolution to Visa ban by the Government of United Arab Emirates (UAE) that has been itching the country since last year October.
It was reported that the United Arab Emirates Immigration authorities had in October 2022, announced a visa ban on Nigerians, stressing that all submitted applications were rejected and fees non-refundable.
Although no reason was given for the ban, the Dubai authorities declared that all applications were on hold until issues between the UAE government and the Nigerian government were resolved.
On Monday, Nigerian President who made a multi-million dollars investment for Nigeria at the just concluded G20 Leaders’ Summit in India, headed to UAE to resolve the imposition of visa ban on Nigerians and suspension of flights to Nigeria by Emirates, the UAE’s national carrier since October.
On one visit, Tinubu while meeting with the President of United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in Abu Dhabi, finalized a historic agreement, which has resulted in the immediate cessation of the visa ban placed on Nigerian travelers.
According to the statement released by the President’s aide, Ajuri Ngelale, stated that by this historic agreements, both Etihad Airlines and Emirates Airlines are to immediately resume flight schedules into and out of Nigeria, without any further delay.
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 view of this, some Nigerians have hailed President Tinubu over this historical agreement, Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa in a statement said this intervention will usher a new era of collaboration and friendship between the two nations – Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates.
She added that with this landmark unique diplomatic achievement, Nigerians working in the UAE, who could not have their work permits renewed can now heave a sigh of relief and resumption of flights into Nigeria, will have bilateral parley also laid robust foundation for substantial investments in various sectors in Nigeria.
Minister of Industry Trade and Investment, Dr Doris Nkiruka Uzoka-Anite on Twitter commended Tinubu’s efforts in spearheading an impactful initiative. She said, “This mutually agreed framework, backed by UAE, promises to usher in substantial investments worth billions of U.S. dollars, spanning key sectors like defense and agriculture”.
Not leaving the opposition party, former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose said on tweets that Tinubu’s resolution of the diplomatic row between Nigeria and the the UAE is no doubt heart-warming, adding that resolving such a diplomatic deadlock in just one visit to UAE shows that President Tinubu has come to renew the hopes of Nigerians.
Remo Omokri, aide to former President, on his side advised Nigerians to be in their best behaviour, he said, “Sadly, we have become known for some rather negative practices I don’t want to enumerate here. You know them as well as I do.
Adding that Nigerians must police themselves and have a sense of national pride, so as not to get banned again. “There is a limit to what foreign governments can take. Let us consider the national interest and not repeat the same patterns that contributed to the ban so that we can all travel to Dubai without feeling ashamed”.