NewsNigeriaPolitics190 Nigerians Back Home as United Arab Emirates Ends Travel Ban

One hundred and ninety Nigerians have returned home after being repatriated from the United Arab Emirates, UAE, on Tuesday, 16th July 2024.

According to a tweet by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the returnees arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja at exactly 5:59 a.m.

“The Federal Government has repatriated one hundred and ninety (190) Nigerians from the United Arab Emirates,” the agency tweeted.

The returnees were received by NEMA and other government officials. They were profiled and documented by relevant agencies upon arrival.

NEMA also reports that they were “sensitised to behave with decorum and responsibility” upon returning to Nigeria.

The repatriation coincides with the recent easing of the UAE’s visa restrictions on Nigerians that had been in place since October 2022 after Dubai’s Emirates Airline cited an inability to repatriate funds from Nigeria.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris announced the lifting of the ban on Monday, just a day before the repatriation.

“Following successful talks and extensive, mutually beneficial negotiations between the Government of the United Arab Emirates and the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, an agreement was reached allowing for the resumption of travel to the UAE for Nigerian passport holders,” the Minister’s tweet stated.

According to Idris, the agreement is effective immediately, meaning Nigerians can begin applying for UAE visas as of 15 July 2024.