The Nigerian government's claim that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is poised to lift its year-long visa ban on Nigerian travelers has been contradicted by an official from the Gulf state.

An anonymous source from the UAE informed CNN that "There are no changes on the Nigeria/UAE travel status so far." The source clarified that they were not authorized to speak to the media.

Last October, the UAE announced that it would no longer issue visas to citizens from Nigeria and 19 other African countries, though it did not provide specific details. Obtaining a 30-day tourist visa had been relatively straightforward until the UAE abruptly halted the issuance of visas to Nigerian nationals.

Flight operations between the two countries were also suspended last year after Dubai's Emirates airline stopped its operations in Nigeria, citing difficulties in accessing and repatriating its funds totaling $85 million, which were held in Nigeria.

Recently, Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu held a meeting with UAE leader Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi, where they reportedly "finalized a historic agreement," as stated by the Nigerian government. The government's statement indicated that the agreement would lead to the lifting of the visa ban and the immediate resumption of flights between the two countries, with both Etihad Airlines and Emirates Airlines mentioned.

However, a subsequent statement from the UAE government did not confirm the lifting of the visa ban or the resumption of flights. Instead, it mentioned that the leaders had explored opportunities for further bilateral collaboration and hoped to reinforce ties between the two nations.

In a follow-up statement, the Nigerian government spokesperson clarified that officials from both countries required more time to finalize the details of the agreement, contradicting the earlier statement. He emphasized the need to allow cabinet officials from both sides to work out the finer points and cross-sectoral agreements. He urged everyone to allow the process to proceed naturally, without speculation.

An elite’s playground

The announcement of the visa ban being lifted sparked great excitement among Nigerians, leading to widespread jubilation.

Dubai has long been a favored destination for thousands of Nigerian tourists, and it has also served as a haven for real estate investors from Nigeria. Prior to the pandemic, Nigerians were among the largest foreign investors in Dubai's real estate market, with investments totaling nearly $2 billion, as reported by local media, citing information from the Dubai Land Department.

Before the ban was imposed, Emirates Airlines operated two daily flights from Lagos, Nigeria, to Dubai, as well as one daily flight from the capital, Abuja, to Dubai.