THE President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu, has secured a historic deal with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) while also facilitating the lifting of the visa ban on Nigerian travellers.
According to media reports, a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, affirmed that President Tinubu and the President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on Monday, September 11, 2023, in Abu Dhabi, have finalised a historic agreement, which has resulted in the immediate cessation of the visa ban placed on Nigerian travellers.
Furthermore, by this agreement, both Etihad Airlines and Emirates Airlines are to immediately resume flight schedules into and out of Nigeria without further delay.
As negotiated between the two Heads of State, this immediate restoration of flight activity through these two airlines and between the two countries does not involve any immediate payment by the Nigerian government.
In recognition of President Tinubu’s economic development diplomacy drive and proposals presented by him to President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, an agreed framework has been established, which will involve several billions of U.S. dollars worth of new investments into the Nigerian economy across multiple sectors, including defence, agriculture and others, by the investment arms of the Government of the United Arab Emirates.
Additionally, President Tinubu is pleased to have successfully negotiated a joint, new foreign exchange liquidity programme between the two Governments, which will be announced in detail in the coming weeks.
The President commended the UAE President, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, for his unalloyed friendship and his determined effort to join hands with him to fully normalise and reset to excellence the standard of relations between the two important countries.