ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- President Bola Tinubu is headed to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, from India, to address the general visa ban imposed on Nigerians as well as the long-drawn dispute between Emirates Airlines and the Nigerian government.
This was disclosed by a top foreign ministry official, to Peoples Gazette on Sunday.
He said that president Tinubu will be in the UAE to discuss visa issues, Emirates operations in Nigeria and other bilateral matters, after which he will return to Nigeria.
Recall that the President had on 24 August said he was determined to end the bilateral dispute between both countries that led to the suspension of flight operations to Nigeria in October 2022, amid claims of their trapped Emirates funds in Nigeria’s central bank.
Also, the UAE banned Nigerians and nearly 20 other nationals, most Africans, from entering its territory, citing a crime wave.
Presidential spokesman Ajuri Ngelale confirmed the resolution move by the president in a State House press release on Sunday,
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According to the statement, “President Bola Tinubu will meet with the leadership of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) during a technical stopover in Abu Dhabi, UAE, after the President’s departure from New Delhi, India.
“The meeting will serve as a follow-up discussion to address specific, salient issues within the bilateral relationship after conversations held during a recent visit by the UAE Ambassador to the President at the State House in Abuja.
“The President is to address lingering bilateral issues while maximizing the opportunity of the stopover to equally advance his investment promotion objectives with high-level authorities in the public and private sectors of the United Arab Emirates.
“Following a successful investment drive on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit, active participation in the G-20 Summit, and a productive stopover in the UAE, the President is expected to return to Abuja immediately following the bilateral engagement.”
President Tinubu’s trip to India had already been approved as a major success, with both countries expressing readiness to improve social and economic ties in the immediate future.