Nigeria, UAE visa situation to normalise soon – Keyamo

• Published On: 03 October 2024 at 18:22

Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, announced that the situation with UAE visas for Nigerians is expected to improve soon, indicating progress towards resolving the ongoing travel restrictions.

Keyamo made the announcement on Wednesday at a ceremony commemorating the resumption of Emirates Airlines' passenger flights to Nigeria following their suspension in 2022.

He stated that diplomatic efforts are underway to facilitate smoother travel between Nigeria and the UAE, with significant progress made on the visa issue.

“We are making huge progress on the issue of the Visas for Nigerians, and I think very soon everything will return to normal,” Keyamo stated.

The Minister also stated that the Nigerian government will closely monitor Emirates Airlines to ensure that it maintains its commitment to the Nigerian market.

He said, “We would closely monitor you and make sure you don’t leave us again.”

Speaking at the ceremony, an Emirates Airlines official thanked Nigerian authorities and stakeholders for their support.

In a video shared by Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, via his official X handle, the representative reassured that the airline is committed to maintaining its presence in Nigeria, saying, "We are back today and we will stay."

He also stated that this message was delivered directly from the airline's senior management, indicating their desire to avoid future suspensions and improve operations in Nigeria.

Emirates Airlines resumed passenger flights to Nigeria on Monday, its first from the UAE since 2022.

Flight EK 783 landed at Murtala Muhammad International Airport at 3:32 p.m.

This return marks the end of a two-year hiatus caused by concerns about trapped funds in Nigeria.