The presidency has debunked claims suggesting that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has lifted the visa ban on Nigeria, clarifying that visa issuance to Nigerians has not yet resumed.
This comes in response to reports suggesting the ban had been lifted. However, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President, Bayo Onanuga, has refuted the claims attributed to him.
Onanuga clarified the claims via his X handle on Tuesday, March 5, noting that the document in circulation is not authorized by the Nigerian Government.
He wrote, “UAE has not resumed visa issuance to Nigerians. The document in circulation is not authorised either by the Nigerian government or the UAE.”
The UAE had in October 2022 banned Nigerians and citizens from 19 other African countries from entering its borders.
Following the move, the country’s authorities issued a notice to travel agents and trade partners to reject all applications.
Owing to the ban, both countries’ authorities have been in diplomatic logjam about travel restrictions.
