Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on Monday, in Abu Dhabi, finalised a historic agreement, which has resulted in the immediate cessation of the visa ban placed on Nigerian travelers to the Arab country.
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.
As negotiated between the two Heads of State, this immediate restoration of flight activity, through the two airlines and between the two countries, does not involve any immediate payment by the Nigerian government.
According to a statement by Presidential Spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, on Monday evening, in recognition of President Tinubu’s economic development diplomacy drive and proposals presented by President Tinubu to his counterpart, an agreed framework has been established, which will involve several billions of U.S. dollars worth of new investments into the Nigerian economy across multiple sectors, including defence, agriculture and others, by the investment arms of the Government of the United Arab Emirates.
Additionally, he said President Tinubu was pleased to have successfully negotiated a joint, new foreign exchange liquidity programme between the two Governments, which will be announced in detail in the coming weeks.
In conclusion, the President commended the UAE President, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, for his unalloyed friendship and his determined effort to join hands with him to fully normalize and reset to excellence, the standard of relations between the two important countries.
LEADERSHIP earlier reported that President Tinubu will meet with the leadership of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) during a technical stopover in Abu Dhabi, UAE, after the President’s departure from New Delhi, India.
According to a presidential spokesman, the meeting will serve as a follow-up discussion to address specific and salient issues within the bilateral relationship after conversations held during a recent visit by the UAE Ambassador to the President at the State House in Abuja.
