The United Arab Emirates has denied reports by the Nigerian government that it will relax a year-long visa ban on Nigerian travelers.
“There have been no changes in the Nigeria/UAE travel status so far,” a Gulf official told CNN.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu claimed to have met with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan earlier this week in Abu Dhabi, and “finalized a historic agreement,” according to a statement provided by the Nigerian administration.
The deal, according to the administration, paves the way for the easing of the visa ban, as well as the immediate resumption of flights between the two nations.
“Furthermore, by this historic agreement, both Etihad Airlines and Emirates Airlines are to immediately resume flight schedules into and out of Nigeria, without any further delay,” Nigeria’s presidential spokesman Ajuri Ngelale said in a statement.
However, the UAE government later Monday said that during the meeting, both leaders “explored opportunities for further bilateral collaboration” with the hope of “reinforcing ties between the UAE and Nigeria,” but did not mention easing the visa ban or resuming flights.
