March 05, (THEWILL) – The United Arab Emirates (UAE), has yet to resume visa services for Nigerians, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said on Tuesday evening.
THEWILL recalls that the government of UAE banned nationals of 20 African countries including Nigeria, from entering Abu Dhabi, its capital, since October 2022. Flights between both countries were also stopped after Dubai’s Emirates airline suspended its operations in Nigeria, citing trapped revenues.
But a document, which surfaced on Social media on Tuesday, claimed that the Abu Dhabi authorities have announced suspension of visa restrictions for Nigerians effective March 4.
According to the document, purportedly attributed to Onanuga, the suspension followed the diplomatic meeting between Nigeria and the UAE authorities.
However, in a clarification on Tuesday evening, Onanuga refuted the document, saying it was not authorised, either by the Nigerian government or the UAE.
“UAE has not resumed visa issuance to Nigerians. The document in circulation is not authorised either by the Nigerian government or the UAE”, Onanuga wrote on X on Tuesday evening.
