The President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari has called on the Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to consider lifting its blanket visa ban on Nigerians.
The President made this call on Tuesday evening during a telephone conversation with the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who doubles as the Emir of Abu Dhabi.
Buhari had earlier called Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to condole with him on the death of his mother-in-law, Sheikha Maryam Al Falasi, during which important issues of mutual concern between the two countries came up.
According to a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, Buhari requested that his UAE counterpart review the blanket visa ban imposed on Nigerians intending to travel to the UAE.
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The President remembered that the two countries have enjoyed years of great relations that are mutually beneficial and are evidenced by strong economic exchanges and frequent conversations on issues of mutual concern, including engagements at the highest political levels.
Despite the fact that no nation, including Nigeria, can tolerate criminal acts and illegal behaviour, he highlighted that recent irritants in bilateral relations brought on by consular problems relating to the behaviour of some Nigerians in the UAE are being resolved.
Buhari stated that the Nigerian government is prepared to impose the required punishment through the proper legal channels against anyone found to have committed crimes in the UAE.
He requested that the issue be allowed to be handled by the relevant security/intelligence agencies of the two countries and to come up with lasting solutions to the problems associated with criminalities and illegalities.
The statement added that Buhari also requested a resumption of the suspended operations of Emirates Airline in the country.
Africa Today News, New York recalls that Emirates Airline had suspended its operations in Nigeria in 2022 in the wake of its inability to repatriate funds trapped in Nigeria.
President Buhari assured the UAE leader that the issue of the Emirates funds was receiving appropriate attention alongside those of other foreign airlines operating in Nigeria, adding that the Central Bank of Nigeria had been directed to increase foreign exchange allocation to the airline.