The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is yet to lift the visa ban on Nigeria, according to the presidency. Several news outlets had reported that UAE on March 4 lifted the visa restriction on Nigerian travellers.
But Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, refuted the viral document in an update on his “X” page on Tuesday, March 5.
The UAE had in October 2022 banned Nigerians and citizens from 20 other African countries from entering its borders.
Among the affected countries are Nigeria, Uganda, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Cameroon, Liberia, Burundi, Republic of Guinea, Gambia, Togo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, Benin, Ivory Coast, Congo, Rwanda, Burkina Faso, Guinea Bissau, Comoros, and the Dominican Republic.
The Emirati authorities issued a notice to trade partners and travel agents, instructing them to reject all applications.
Since the ban, the UAE and Nigeria have been embroiled in a diplomatic dispute concerning flight allocations and travel restrictions.
Reacting on Tuesday, Onanuga said: “UAE has not resumed visa issuance to Nigerians. The document in circulation is not authorized either by the Nigerian government or the UAE.”
The UAE had in October 2022 banned Nigerians and citizens from 19 other African countries from entering its borders.
Following the move, the country’s authorities issued a notice to travel agents and trade partners to reject all applications.
Owing to the ban, both countries’ authorities have been in diplomatic logjam about travel restrictions.
