Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has called on the United Arab Emirates government to call off its visa ban on Nigerians. Going ahead, he also requested for the resumption of the suspended services of Emirates to Nigeria.
President Buhari is reported to have made the requests during a telephone conversation with the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Post which a statement was issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu that read: “Buhari requested that his UAE counterpart review the blanket visa ban imposed on Nigerians intending to travel to the UAE.”
“The recent irritants in bilateral relations generated by consular issues relating to the behaviour of some Nigerians in the UAE are being ironed out. No country including Nigeria will condone criminalities and illegal behaviours,” the statement further read.
President Buhari further assured the UAE leader that the issue of the Emirates funds was receiving appropriate attention alongside those of other foreign airlines operating in Nigeria, adding that the Central Bank of Nigeria had been directed to increase foreign exchange allocation to the airline.
“We will apply necessary sanctions through appropriate judicial process against anyone identified to have committed criminal acts in the UAE. I request that the issue be allowed to be handled by the relevant security/intelligence agencies of the two countries and to come up with lasting solutions to the problems associated with criminalities and illegalities,” the statement concluded.