Nigeria And UAE: Cautious Optimism As FG Adopts Piecemeal Negotiation Out Of $800m Stuck Funds As UAE Lifts Sanctions
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has officially lifted the visa ban on Nigerian travelers, ending a nearly year-long restriction along with the resumption of flight operations. This decision came after a diplomatic meeting between Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu and UAE leader Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi.
While this diplomatic achievement has been applauded, aviation industry insiders remain cautiously optimistic about the resumption of Emirates’ flights without a concrete resolution to address the over $800 million owed to foreign airlines in Nigeria.
Since mid-2022, foreign airlines have grappled with a repatriation crisis, struggling to access foreign exchange from the Central Bank of Nigeria’s official channels. This situation led to Emirates ceasing operations in Nigeria in October 2022.
The Presidential spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, stated that President Tinubu and the UAE ruler have finalized a “historic agreement” resulting in the immediate removal of the visa ban on Nigerian travelers. Both Etihad and Emirates Airlines are set to promptly resume flight schedules to and from Nigeria.
Furthermore, an agreed framework has been established as a result of President Tinubu’s economic development diplomacy and proposals. This framework will involve substantial investments in various sectors of the Nigerian economy, amounting to billions of U.S. dollars.
The UAE Embassy acknowledged discussions on opportunities for enhanced bilateral collaboration, particularly in areas contributing to sustainable economic growth. However, no official statement has been issued regarding travel and flight operations between the two countries.