Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are set to engage in high-level discussions aimed at resolving the persistent challenges Nigerians face when applying for visas to the UAE. These talks are expected to strengthen diplomatic and economic relations between both nations, focusing on improving mutual cooperation.
This decision was reached during a recent courtesy visit by Salem Saeed Alshamsi, UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, to Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, at Tafawa Balewa House in Abuja.
Over the years, many Nigerians — particularly tourists and business travelers — have encountered significant hurdles in securing entry permits to the UAE, despite the long-standing diplomatic, cultural, and economic partnerships between the two countries.
During the meeting, Odumegwu-Ojukwu reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to maintaining strong bilateral ties with the UAE, emphasizing the deep economic and human connections that exist. “Dubai has become a top destination for many Nigerians,” she noted, highlighting that an estimated 12,000 Nigerians, including professionals, students, and workers, currently reside in the UAE.
She further revealed that in 2015 alone, approximately one million Nigerians visited the UAE, spending between $100 million to $150 million on visa fees and over $1 billion on tourism, shopping, and other economic activities.
Despite these significant contributions, the minister noted that economic relations between both nations remain largely skewed, calling for more balanced collaborations, especially in sectors like power and renewable energy.
Raising concerns over the lack of transparency in UAE’s visa policy, Odumegwu-Ojukwu urged for clear, consistent guidelines to alleviate widespread uncertainty. “There have been persistent concerns around visa issuance, even affecting senior government officials. Nigerians have made substantial investments in real estate, tourism, and various businesses in the UAE. We need clarity on visa procedures to ensure confidence in our bilateral relations,” she stated.
She also announced plans to host a Nigeria-UAE Joint Commission meeting in Nigeria, as a follow-up to the last session held in the UAE in 2022. The upcoming meeting is expected to address unresolved Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) and explore new avenues for economic collaboration.
In response, Ambassador Alshamsi congratulated Odumegwu-Ojukwu on her appointment and reaffirmed the UAE’s dedication to maintaining strong and constructive relations with Nigeria.
Highlighting his efforts to facilitate visa processes since assuming office, Alshamsi stated, “Since my arrival in Nigeria about a year and a half ago, there have been zero visa rejections under my oversight. From July 2024 alone, we have issued over 700 tourist visas to Nigerian travelers.”
He assured that both countries would soon hold formal talks to resolve visa concerns and optimize existing agreements to boost trade and investment partnerships. “While disagreements may arise from time to time, they are never personal. We remain committed partners and will continue to collaborate closely,” Alshamsi added.
He also mentioned that additional agreements would be signed in anticipation of the UAE President’s visit to Nigeria, scheduled for the second quarter of the year.
Beyond visa and economic matters, Odumegwu-Ojukwu expressed appreciation to the UAE government for its recent humanitarian assistance, including donations of relief materials for flood victims and vaccines for chickenpox patients in Nigeria.
