The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has lifted a visa ban on Nigerians travelling to the country, an official announced.
Minister of Information and National Guidance, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Monday.
“You are aware that Nigeria has been in discussions with the United Arab Emirates on the issue of visas for Nigerian passport holders travelling to the United Arab Emirates.
“An agreement has been reached on this matter today and, as of today, July 15, Nigerian passport holders will be able to obtain a visa to travel to the United Arab Emirates.
“I can tell you that the agreement has been reached and as of today, Nigerian passport holders who wish to travel to the UAE will be able to do so,” Idris said.
On December 13, 2021, the United Arab Emirates issued a travel ban for passengers from Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, citing an increase in COVID-19 cases in the countries by passengers from the two nations.
In June, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo hinted that the visa restriction for Nigerians would soon be lifted, saying the country had observed all protocols to ease the ban.
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“We have done everything. We have resolved everything. We just have to wait for the announcement from the UAE government, and that announcement is imminent. They will announce it… I want to give them the opportunity to announce the date,” he said.