Nigeria and the UAE are set to meet to discuss visa procurement issues for Nigerians traveling to the UAE. The meeting stems from a diplomatic engagement between UAE Ambassador Salem Saeed Alshamsi and Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu. Current visa challenges, economic cooperation, and upcoming bilateral discussions are focal points during this engagement.
In the coming days, Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are scheduled to convene to address challenges surrounding visa procurement for Nigerians wishing to travel to the UAE. This initiative emerged following a courtesy visit from the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Salem Saeed Alshamsi, to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, at the Tafawa Balewa House in Abuja.
Currently, Nigerians face significant hurdles in obtaining UAE visas, particularly for tourism purposes. During their meeting, Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu highlighted the robust diplomatic ties between Nigeria and the UAE, emphasizing Nigeria’s consistence in nurturing this relationship. She pointed out that Dubai has become a favored destination for many Nigerians, with approximately 12,000 of them residing in the UAE, comprised of a range of workers, professionals, and students.
Statistics reveal that in 2015, nearly one million Nigerians visited the UAE, contributing between $100 million and $150 million solely on visa expenses and over $1 billion on shopping, in addition to other economic activities. Odumegwu-Ojukwu remarked on the need to explore collaborative endeavors to bolster economic interests between the two nations, acknowledging the lopsided nature of their current economic interactions.
Concerns regarding the visa situation, including potential new policies affecting Nigerians, were expressed by the minister, who underscored the significant investments that Nigerians have made in the UAE, including properties and tourism ventures. She mentioned that a reciprocal joint commission meeting is anticipated to take place in Nigeria, following the UAE’s hosting in 2022. The agenda will include discussions on various bilateral topics such as power and renewable energy.
The minister also extended gratitude to the UAE for its recent donation of relief materials for flood victims in Nigeria and its contribution of chicken pox vaccines to enhance the health sector. Ambassador Alshamsi acknowledged Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s recent appointment and affirmed the positive outcomes achieved over the past five decades in Nigeria-UAE relations.
Assuring her of his support, he noted his commitment to addressing the challenges faced by Nigerian visa applicants, revealing that he has issued more than 700 tourism visas since assuming his role. Alshamsi emphasized the importance of collaboration and committed to resolving these pressing issues, aiming to enhance mutual economic partnerships before an anticipated presidential visit from the UAE to Nigeria in the second quarter of the year.
The forthcoming meeting between Nigeria and the UAE aims to resolve pressing visa challenges for Nigerian travelers. With both nations dedicated to strengthening diplomatic and economic ties, this initiative reflects a commitment to address concerns and enhance collaboration. The appointment of the UAE Ambassador further solidifies the prospects for improved mutual relations, emphasizing the importance of effective communication and partnership moving forward.
Original Source: dailypost.ng
