President Bola Tinubu is scheduled to meet with the leadership of the United Arab Emirates.
On the agenda will be a possible resolution of the Emirates Airline flight suspension to Nigeria, visa ban and other diplomatic issues.
Speaking with Punch, the Aviation and Aerospace Management Minister, Festus Keyamo, SAN confirmed that he travelled on Sunday night and that officials of the two countries will meet by 5 pm Today.
The UAE imposed a visa ban on Nigerians in October 2022, shortly after Emirates Airlines suspended flights to Nigeria. The move was reportedly in response to Nigeria’s failure to repatriate billions of dollars in trapped funds.
Nigerian carrier, Air Peace, which was also operating in Dubai similarly suspended its flight as the UAE stopped the issuance of visas to prospective travellers.
When he hosted Salem Saeed Al-Shamsi, UAE Ambassador to Nigeria at Aso Rock last month, the President had directed that issues affecting relations with the Emirates Airline, and issuance of visas to Nigerians should be “immediately’’ resolved, emphasizing that he stands prepared to “personally’’ intervene.
