Nigeria, UAE set to resolve visa issues amid growing economic ties

Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are set to hold discussions in the coming days to address challenges faced by Nigerians in obtaining UAE visas, particularly for tourism.

This decision was reached during a courtesy visit by the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Salem Saeed Alshamsi, to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, at the Tafawa Balewa House in Abuja.

Currently, many Nigerians struggle with securing UAE visas, making travel to the Gulf nation more difficult. In a statement released on Sunday by her media aide, Magnus Eze, Odumegwu-Ojukwu emphasized that Dubai remains a popular destination for Nigerians.

Official records show that around 12,000 Nigerians reside in the UAE, including unskilled workers, professionals, and students. The minister noted that in 2015 alone, nearly a million Nigerians visited the UAE, spending between $100 million and $150 million on visas, with over $1 billion spent on shopping and other economic activities, excluding school fees, tourism, and trade investments.

She pointed out that while economic relations between both nations have been strong, they remain largely one-sided. Therefore, she called for improved collaboration to ensure mutual economic benefits.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu also raised concerns about Nigeria’s visa status with the UAE, stating, “There have been numerous concerns about the status of visas for the UAE. Even some top government officials are worried and have raised these concerns. Is there a new visa policy for UAE? You need to let Nigerians know.”

She further disclosed that another joint commission between the two nations is overdue, following the last one hosted by the UAE in 2022. “We hope that with the joint commission, we will be able to handle those MOUs that have not been treated. And we will achieve a lot,” she added.

In response, Ambassador Alshamsi acknowledged the strong ties between both countries, which have lasted over 50 years, and assured that steps were being taken to ease visa challenges for Nigerians.

“We have increased visa issuance through the agent. I have zero visa rejection since I came to Nigeria. Since I arrived a year and a half ago, I have made sure that I issue visas. We have issued over 700 tourism visas from July 2024,” Alshamsi stated.

He emphasized that while disagreements may arise, they are not personal and can always be resolved through dialogue. “We want you to see us as part of your team, we are partners,” he added.

Alshamsi also revealed that both nations have signed three or four agreements, with plans to finalize another major one soon. “We must try and sign more agreements before our President’s visit to Nigeria in the second quarter of this year. But we would hold a meeting to resolve these issues,” he assured.

The upcoming talks between Nigeria and the UAE are expected to ease visa restrictions and strengthen economic cooperation between both nations.