During a phone chat with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who serves as both the president and the emir of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, the President discussed the issue.
Nigerians no longer need to obtain visas for the UAE, per President Muhammadu Buhari’s request to the UAE government.
The president of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who also serves as the emir of Abu Dhabi, and the president discussed this position on the phone on Tuesday.
Ahead of the passing of his mother-in-law, Sheikha Maryam Al Falasi, Buhari had contacted Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to express his condolences. During their conversation, significant matters of interest to both nations were discussed.
In a statement, Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, said that Buhari had asked his UAE counterpart to review the blanket visa block that had been placed on Nigerians planning to visit the UAE.
The president recalled that the two countries have had excellent relations that are mutually beneficial for a long time. This relationship is evidenced by the two countries’ strong economic ties and their frequent consultations on issues of mutual concern, which have included engagements at the highest political levels.
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He stated that recent irritants in bilateral relations brought on by consular concerns relating to the behaviour of some Nigerians in the UAE are being resolved and that no country, including Nigeria, will tolerate criminalities and illegal behaviour.
So, Buhari said that the Nigerian government was ready to punish anyone who was found guilty of breaking the law in the UAE through the proper legal channels.
He asked that the matter be left up to the security and intelligence agencies of the two countries so that crimes and illegal activities could be dealt with in a way that would last.
According to the statement, Buhari also asked for Emirates Airline’s countrywide operations, which had been stopped, to start up again.
Because it couldn’t get money stuck in Nigeria back home, Emirates Airline had to stop doing business there in 2022.
President Buhari also told the leader of the UAE that the Central Bank of Nigeria has been told to give the airline more foreign currency. He assured the leader of the UAE that the problem with Emirates’ funds, as well as those of other foreign airlines operating in Nigeria, is being dealt with properly.
