 to address visa procurement difficulties faced by Nigerians traveling to the UAE, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced.){kind=link}
The Federal Government has engaged in discussions with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to address visa procurement difficulties faced by Nigerians traveling to the UAE, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, disclosed this after a meeting with the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Amb. Salem Alshamsi.
She acknowledged that despite the strong diplomatic ties and strategic partnerships between the two nations, many Nigerians have encountered difficulties in obtaining UAE visas, particularly for tourism purposes.
“Nigeria remains committed to fostering this relationship. Dubai has become a preferred destination for many Nigerians, and officially, about 12,000 Nigerians currently reside in the UAE, including students, professionals, and unskilled workers,” she said.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu highlighted that in 2015, nearly a million Nigerians visited the UAE, spending between $100 million and $150 million on visas alone and over $1 billion on tourism, education, and shopping.
She stressed the need for a more balanced economic relationship between both countries.
She also raised concerns about the current visa restrictions, which have even affected high-ranking Nigerian government officials.
Additionally, she noted that a joint commission meeting between the two nations was due, as the last session was hosted by the UAE in 2022.
The minister appreciated the UAE government for its recent humanitarian support, including donations of relief materials for flood victims and vaccines for chickenpox patients to aid Nigeria’s healthcare system.
“There is a need for clear communication regarding any new visa policies for Nigerians. We also look forward to hosting the next joint commission meeting in Nigeria, where we will discuss various bilateral issues, including power and renewable energy,” she added.
In response, Ambassador Alshamsi congratulated Odumegwu-Ojukwu on her appointment and commended the progress made in the 50-year diplomatic relationship between Nigeria and the UAE.
He confirmed that over the past year and a half, visas have been issued to both government officials and private individuals through an appointed agent.
He reassured that the UAE is committed to resolving visa-related concerns and strengthening economic ties between the two nations.
“We have issued more than 700 tourism visas since July 2024, and since I assumed office, there have been no visa rejections,” Alshamsi stated.
He further pledged to continue working on agreements to solidify bilateral relations, with a major agreement expected to be signed ahead of the Nigerian president’s visit to the UAE in the second quarter of 2025.