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From Aidoghie Paulinus, Abuja
The Federal Government and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have agreed to meet in order to resolve issues relating to issuance of visa to Nigerians intending to travel to the United Arab Emirates.
The decision, according to the Special Assistant on Communication and New Media to the Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Magnus Eze, was reached when the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Nigeria, Salem Saeed Al-Shamsi, visited the Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, in Abuja.
Nigerians intending to visit the United Arab Emirates have been experiencing difficulties in obtaining visas, particularly tourism visas.
However, Odumegwu-Ojukwu acknowledged the warm diplomatic relations and strategic partnerships that has existed between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates, noting that Nigeria has remained faithful in the relationship.
The minister stated that the City of Dubai in the UAE has become a destination of choice to many Nigerians.
She added that officially, about 12,000 Nigerians live in the UAE, ranging from unskilled workers to professionals and students in various institutions across the country.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu disclosed that in 2015 alone, almost a million Nigerians visited the UAE, especially Dubai, where they spent between $100m to $150m on visas alone, and over $1billion, mostly on shopping sprees, exclusive of amounts spent on traders’ goods, payment of school fees, tourism and other related economic activities.
The minister further said that it was clear that the economic relations between both countries were predominantly one-sided, hence the need to explore areas of collaboration that will enhance economic interests.
“There have been numerous concerns about the status of visa for the UAE. Even some top government officials are worried and they raise the concerns. Is there a new visa policy for the UAE? You need to let Nigerians know. We need to know what to tell our citizenry. Nigerians have invested massively in property in the UAE, hosting conferences and tourism.”
Odumegwu-Ojukwu, however, disclosed that another joint commission between the two countries was due after the one hosted by the UAE in 2022.
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“We want to reciprocate by hosting the joint commission in Nigeria. There are several bilateral issues such as power, renewable energy and the rest of the things that we need to deliberate.
“We hope that with the joint commission, we will be able to handle those MoUs that have not been treated. And we will achieve a lot,” Odumegwu-Ojukwu also said.
In the course of the meeting the minister expressed gratitude to the United Arab Emirates for the large consignment of relief materials it recently donated to support flood victims across the country, including vaccines for chicken pox patients to support Nigeria’s health institutions.
Al-Shamsi congratulated Odumegwu-Ojukwu on her recent appointment as Minister of State, while also expressing delight over the achievements recorded in the Nigeria-UAE relations in over 50 years.
The envoy said he had for over one and half years since he assumed duties in Abuja, issued visas to government officials and private persons, explaining that an appointed agent handled visas for private applicants.
He expressed his commitment to address the difficulties faced by Nigerian visa seekers, as well as optimizing the various MoUs signed by both countries to foster different economic partnerships and the promotion of trade and investment.
“We have increased visa issuance through the agent. I have had zero visa rejection since I came to Nigeria. Since I arrived a year and half ago, I make sure that I issue visas. We have issued over 700 tourism visas from July 2024.
“Sometimes, we might disagree on some issues, but there is nothing personal. But we could still resolve and agree. We want you to see us as part of your team, we are partners.
“We have signed three or four agreements and will soon sign another major agreement. We must try and sign more agreements before our President’s visit to Nigeria in the second quarter of this year.
“But we would hold a meeting to resolve these issues,” Al-Shamsi assured.
