The Nigerian Television Authority has reported the deportation of 400 Nigerians from the United Arab Emirates, who have since arrived in the country.
Upon arrival at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, the deportees were met by a team of officials from various agencies, including the Office of the National Security Adviser, National Commission for Refugees, and others.
A total of 400 Nigerians, comprising 310 men and 90 women, have been repatriated from the United Arab Emirates to Nigeria. Upon arrival at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, they were welcomed by a joint team of officials from the Office of the National Security Adviser, National Commission for Refugees, NAPTIP, NEMA, and other relevant stakeholders, according to a report posted on X on Wednesday.”
The diplomatic tension between Nigeria and the UAE has been ongoing, with the UAE imposing a visa ban on Nigerians nearly two years ago, stemming from various diplomatic disputes.
One major issue involved Dubai’s Emirates Airline halting flights to Nigeria after the Central Bank of Nigeria was unable to remit an estimated $85 million in revenue to the UAE.
In June, after several rounds of negotiations with UAE authorities, the Nigerian government assured its citizens that the visa ban would soon be lifted. Around the same time, it was announced that Nigeria had paid 98 per cent of the $850 million owed, signalling progress in resolving the dispute.
The recent deportation of 400 Nigerians comes amid these lingering diplomatic tensions, even as both nations have reportedly reached an agreement to lift travel restrictions on Nigerians.
The United Arab Emirates Government in July 2024 announced it had finally lifted visa restrictions imposed on Nigerians with immediate effect.
Leave a comment