In a historic agreement, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have announced the immediate cessation of the visa ban placed on Nigerian travelers. This development was finalized during their meeting in Abu Dhabi on Monday.
As a result of this agreement, both Etihad Airlines and Emirates Airlines will promptly resume their flight schedules into and out of Nigeria without any further delay.
The negotiated terms of this agreement do not involve an immediate payment by the Nigerian government. Instead, it is part of President Tinubu’s economic development diplomacy initiatives. During their meeting, President Tinubu presented proposals that led to the establishment of an agreed framework for several billion U.S. dollars worth of new investments into the Nigerian economy. These investments will span multiple sectors, including defense, agriculture, and more, and will be carried out by the investment arms of the Government of the United Arab Emirates.
In addition to these significant economic developments, President Tinubu successfully negotiated a joint foreign exchange liquidity program between the two governments, with detailed announcements to follow in the coming weeks.
President Tinubu expressed his commendation for President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s unwavering friendship and dedicated efforts to normalize and elevate the standard of relations between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates.
This historic agreement marks a pivotal moment in diplomatic and economic relations between the two countries and reflects a commitment to fostering mutual cooperation and development.
