The two-year diplomatic row between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Nigeria has been settled promoting the lifting of the visa ban on Nigerians and introduction of an enhanced document verification process.
This was disclosed in a statement posted by Bayo Onanuga, special adviser on information and strategy to President Bola Tinubu.
UAE and Nigeria have been engaging in a diplomatic row over issues involving flight allocations and travel bans since 2021.
On December 13, 2021, UAE issued a travel restriction on passengers from Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo, citing a surge in the countries’ COVID-19 cases from passengers of the two African nations.
The travel ban might not be unconnected with the diplomatic row between Nigeria and UAE, over Air Peace’s flight frequency to the Arab country, as reported at the time.
Air Peace had requested a slot of three weekly flights from Nigeria to Sharjah Airport in UAE, but only one was granted by the country’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).
GCAA said Air Peace should not expect to retain its flight frequency after pulling out of Sharjah Airport — the Nigerian airline, however, denied the claim.
In retaliation to Air Peace’s treatment in UAE, the federal government dropped Emirate’s slots from 21 to one — leading to the Dubai-based airline suspending all its flights to Nigeria.
On September 11, 2023, the federal government said UAE had lifted its visa ban on Nigerian travellers, however, on September 15, last year, an official of the Arab country said the restriction was still in place.
In a new development, both countries said the restriction has now been lifted after a meeting between Tinubu, and Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE president.
“The Government of Nigeria and the Government of the United Arab Emirates, represented by the UAE Embassy in Abuja, are delighted to announce a pivotal development in our diplomatic relations: the resumption of visa services for Nigerian citizens wishing to visit the UAE, commencing on 4th March, 2024,” Nigeria and UAE said.
“This milestone reflects the successful outcome of in-depth talks between our nations, underscoring our shared commitment to strengthen ties, enhancing cultural exchanges, and fostering opportunities for economic and social collaboration.”
Nigeria and UAE said this marks a significant step forward in both countries’ bilateral cooperation.
ENHANCED DOCUMENT VERIFICATION PROCESS BY UAE
In the statement, both countries said, to ensure a seamless and efficient visa application experience, the UAE has introduced an enhanced document verification process.
“Starting 4th March 2024, all Nigerian applicants for UAE visas are required to first obtain a Document Verification Number. This essential step is to be completed by visiting the dedicated online Document Verification Hub platform,” they said.
After obtaining the document verification number, applicants are instructed in the statement to “proceed with their visa applications through designated travel agents, after which the process will be completed at the Embassy of the UAE in Abuja or Lagos”.
They encourage all prospective travellers to adhere to the guidelines and initiate their applications promptly, ensuring a smooth transition to the new system.
The federal government and UAE said the announcement signifies ongoing efforts to enhance the strong ties between both countries, contributing to the prosperity and well-being of their citizens.