THE Federal Government has facilitated the return of a total of 190 Nigerian citizens from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
As detailed in a statement by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), endorsed by Director General Bashir Garga, the repatriated individuals arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja at 5:57 am today.
Upon arrival, they were met by a unified team of government representatives led by NEMA.
The returnees have undergone profiling, documentation by the relevant authorities, and have been counseled to conduct themselves with dignity and accountability upon their arrival in Nigeria.
The federal government emphasized the importance of acting as exemplary ambassadors of their country, encouraging all Nigerians worldwide to embody the virtues of patriotism, adherence to the rule of law, decency, and integrity.
It is worth noting that back in October 2022, the Federal Government repatriated a total of 542 Nigerians from the UAE.
In a separate development, the Federal Government announced that an agreement has been reached with the UAE to allow Nigerian passport holders to apply for visas to visit the Arab nation starting from July 15, 2024.
The Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, shared this update during a briefing with State House correspondents subsequent to the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.
He highlighted the successful negotiations between the governments of Nigeria and the UAE, leading to an agreement facilitating the issuance of UAE visas to Nigerian passport holders.
The revised visa requirements will come into effect from July 15, 2024.
Interested individuals seeking information on the updated visa conditions for the UAE can visit the country’s official website.
This development follows a suspension of visa issuance to Nigerians by the UAE, which occurred over two years ago during a period of strained diplomatic relations between the UAE and Nigeria.
Furthermore, UAE’s national airline, Emirates Airlines, recently announced the resumption of flights to Nigeria, stating that daily flights between Lagos and Dubai would recommence from October 1, 2024.
