● Abubakar Ojima-Ojo
Abuja – Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are set to hold discussions in the coming days to address challenges surrounding visa procurement for Nigerians traveling to the Gulf nation.
This decision emerged following 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 face difficulties in securing UAE visas, particularly for tourism purposes.
According to a statement by Magnus Eze, Special Assistant on Communication and New Media to the Minister, Odumegwu-Ojukwu reaffirmed the strong diplomatic ties between Nigeria and the UAE, highlighting Nigeria’s commitment to maintaining the partnership.
She noted that Dubai remains a preferred destination for many Nigerians, with official records showing that about 12,000 Nigerians reside in the UAE, including professionals, students, and unskilled workers.
“In 2015 alone, nearly a million Nigerians visited the UAE, spending between $100 million and $150 million on visas alone, while over $1 billion was spent on shopping, excluding expenditures on traders’ goods, school fees, tourism, and other economic activities,” the minister stated.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu emphasized the need for a more balanced economic relationship between both countries.
“There have been numerous concerns about the status of visas for the UAE. Even top government officials have raised these concerns. Is there a new visa policy for UAE? Nigerians need clarity. We need to know what to tell our citizens. Nigerians have made massive investments in property in the UAE, as well as in hosting conferences and tourism,” she said.
She also revealed that another joint commission meeting between Nigeria and the UAE was due, following the last session hosted by the UAE in 2022.
“We want to reciprocate by hosting the joint commission in Nigeria. There are several bilateral issues, such as power and renewable energy, that require deliberation.
“We hope that through the joint commission, we will be able to address outstanding MOUs and achieve significant progress,” the minister added.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu also expressed appreciation to the UAE for its recent donation of relief materials to support flood victims in Nigeria, as well as vaccines for chickenpox patients to strengthen the country’s healthcare system.
In his remarks, Ambassador Alshamsi congratulated Odumegwu-Ojukwu on her appointment and commended the progress made in Nigeria-UAE relations over the past five decades.
He noted that since assuming office in Abuja over a year and a half ago, he has issued visas to government officials and private individuals, with an appointed agent handling visa applications for private applicants.
“We have increased visa issuance through the agent. I have had zero visa rejections since I arrived in Nigeria. Since July 2024 alone, we have issued over 700 tourism visas,” Alshamsi disclosed.
He reassured the Nigerian government of his commitment to resolving visa-related difficulties and optimizing the implementation of various agreements between the two nations.
“Sometimes, we might disagree on some issues, but there is nothing personal. We can always resolve and find common ground. We want you to see us as part of your team – we are partners.
“We have signed three or four agreements and will soon sign another major one. Before our President’s visit to Nigeria in the second quarter of this year, we must work towards finalizing more agreements.
“But first, we will hold a meeting to address these issues,” the envoy assured. GMTNewsng
