Tinubu to meet UAE leaders over visa, diplomatic row today
In a bid to resolve the Emirates Airline flight suspension to Nigeria, visa ban and other diplomatic issues, President Bola Tinubu will meet with the leadership of the United Arab Emirates by 5 pm UAE time today.
According to reports, the Minister for Aviation and Aerospace Management, Festus Keyamo, had on Sunday night travelled to the Middle-East country to meet with the President who had a stopover after exiting the G20 summit in India.
Recall that 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.
Read Also: Emirates Airlines Suspends Air Flights To Nigeria
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.
On Sunday, the Presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, announced that Tinubu would meet UAE authorities over the issue.
