President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday called for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) government to lift the blanket visa ban for Nigerians.
The president made the request while expressing his condolences to the President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed, on the death of his mother-in-law.
“The President requested his UAE counterpart to review the blanket visa ban imposed on Nigerians intending to travel to the UAE, recalling that excellent mutually beneficial relations have persisted between the two nations for many years, symbolized by strong economic interactions and regular consultations on matters of interest. common interest, including commitments at the highest political level,” Garba Shehu, presidential spokesman, said in a statement.
The UAE in October 2022 banned Nigerians from entering the country.
The Nigerian leader admitted that some Nigerians may be breaking UAE laws, but said that was not enough to impose a blanket ban. He said that no country, including Nigeria, will condone illegal behavior and crimes.
Mr. Buhari expressed his readiness to apply the necessary sanctions through appropriate judicial processes against individuals who commit criminal acts in the United Arab Emirates. He urged that the issue be allowed to be handled by the relevant security and intelligence agencies of the two countries and that lasting solutions be put forward to the problems associated with criminalities and illegalities.
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It also requested the resumption of suspended Emirates Airline operations in Nigeria.
Emirates Airlines suspended its operations in Nigeria in October 2022 due to its inability to repatriate its funds trapped in Nigeria.
Mr. Buhari assured that the issue of Emirates’ funds was receiving proper attention along with those of other foreign airlines operating in Nigeria.
He Central Bank of Nigeriahe added, had been aimed at increasing the airline’s foreign exchange allocation.