Emirates Airlines to return to Nigeria; UAE lifts visa ban

The decision to lift ban on Nigeria was made as a result of a meeting between Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and United Arab Emirates President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi.

President Tinubu, who returned from the G20 summit in India, actively sought a solution to the differences with Emirates Airlines and visas for Nigerian passengers.

Last year, the United Arab Emirates suspended visas for Nigerians due to difficulties in repatriating money from Nigeria, prompting Emirates Airlines and Etihad Airlines to suspend flights to Nigeria.

The resumption of flights and the lifting of the visa ban is the result of negotiations between the two leaders and, most importantly, is not an immediate financial burden for the Nigerian government.

Nigeria, which is Africa's largest oil producer, has faced challenges due to a dollar shortage that has affected foreign airlines that sell tickets in the Nigerian naira currency.

President Tinubu initiated major reforms in Nigeria, such as the removal of expensive fuel subsidies and the removal of currency restrictions, although liquidity has not yet fully returned to official markets, leading to a black market exchange rate premium.

As part of the discussions, President Tinubu held intergovernmental talks on a new foreign exchange liquidity program which will be announced in more detail in the coming weeks.

In addition, the two leaders set the framework for billions of dollars of new investments through the UAE's investment arms in various sectors such as defense, agriculture and others. This development is a positive step towards strengthening the relationship between Nigeria and the UAE by facilitating travel, trade and investment between the two countries.