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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has declared that the Federal Government and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will address the challenges related to visa acquisition for Nigerians wishing to travel to the UAE.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, announced a visit from Amb. Salem Alshamsi, the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria.
She recognized Nigerians' difficulties in obtaining UAE visas, particularly for tourism.
This issue, she pointed out, has persisted despite the amicable diplomatic relations and strategic collaborations between the two nations. “Nigeria remains dedicated to this partnership. The city of Dubai in the UAE has become a favored destination for many Nigerians.
Officially, around 12,000 Nigerians reside in the UAE, encompassing a range from unskilled laborers to professionals and students attending various educational institutions,” she stated.
She highlighted that in 2015, nearly one million Nigerians traveled to the UAE, especially Dubai, reportedly spending between 100 million to 150 million dollars on visas alone, and over 1 billion dollars on shopping, educational fees, tourism, and other expenses.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu emphasized the necessity for a more equitable economic relationship between the two countries.
The minister also raised concerns regarding the existing visa regulations for the UAE, mentioning that even some high-ranking Nigerian officials had voiced their worries. Additionally, she pointed out that a joint commission between the two nations is anticipated, following the one convened by the UAE in 2022.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu expressed gratitude to the UAE government for its recent contributions of relief supplies to flood victims in Nigeria as well as vaccines for chickenpox patients to aid Nigeria's healthcare facilities.
“There is a necessity to communicate any new visa regulations to Nigerians. We are eager to reciprocate by hosting the joint commission in Nigeria to address various bilateral matters, including power, renewable energy, and more,” she remarked.
Alshamsi congratulated Odumegwu-Ojukwu on her new role and praised the progress achieved over the 50-year Nigeria-UAE collaboration. He confirmed that visas for both official representatives and private citizens have been issued in the past year and a half, with the process managed by an appointed agent.
He assured that the UAE is committed to overcoming the visa issues faced by Nigerians and emphasized that both countries will collaborate to strengthen their economic partnership.
“Since July 2024, we have issued over 700 tourism visas, and I have seen zero visa rejections since I took office,” Alshamsi noted.
He also promised to continue finalizing agreements to enhance bilateral relations, with a significant agreement anticipated to be signed before the Nigerian president's visit to the UAE in the second quarter of 2025.
