In a landmark development, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has successfully negotiated an agreement with the President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, resulting in the immediate lifting of the visa ban imposed on Nigerian travelers.
The announcement came via a statement from the presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, on Monday, following a pivotal meeting between both leaders in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
According to Ngelale, this historic agreement also entails the swift resumption of flight operations by both Etihad Airlines and Emirates Airlines to and from Nigeria, with no further delays.
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Significantly, the agreement stipulates that the Nigerian government will not be required to make any immediate payments. Instead, it reflects President Tinubu’s economic development diplomacy efforts and the proposals he presented to his UAE counterpart.
Under this agreement, a mutually agreed-upon framework has been established, facilitating substantial investments into Nigeria’s economy across various sectors, including defense, agriculture, and others. These investments will be orchestrated by the investment arms of the United Arab Emirates government and are expected to amount to several billion U.S. dollars.
Additionally, President Tinubu has successfully negotiated a joint foreign exchange liquidity program between the two governments, details of which will be revealed in the coming weeks.
In conclusion, President Tinubu expresses his appreciation to UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his unwavering friendship and collaborative efforts in reestablishing and elevating the relationship between the two nations to a level of excellence.
