The Presidency has denied media reports that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has lifted the ban on visa issuance to Nigerian citizens.
As earlier reported by various news platforms, the UAE had announced the restoration of visa services for Nigerians, confirming that they can now visit the Arabian country again.
The media report stated that the restoration of visa services was announced in a joint statement by the federal government of Nigeria and the UAE titled “Resumption of Visa Services for Nigerians Travelling to the UAE, ” dated March 4, 2024.
The statement noted that the achievement follows the discussions between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates.
The statement disclosed that the commencement of visa issuance, which resumed on March 4, 2024, is a milestone, reflecting the successful outcome of in-depth talks between the two nations.
But in a post via his official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Tuesday evening, presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, refuted the reports, saying that UAE has not resumed visa issuance to Nigerians.
Onanuga said the document in circulation is not authorized either by the Nigerian or the UAE governments.
UAE has not resumed visa issuance to Nigerians. The document in circulation is not authorized either by the Nigerian government or the UAE.
— Bayo Onanuga (@aonanuga1956) March 5, 2024
He wrote: “UAE has not resumed visa issuance to Nigerians. The document in circulation is not authorized either by the Nigerian government or the UAE.”
