By Harry Awurumibe Editor, Abuja Bureau
Despite the deafening noise that greeted the purported “lifting of visa ban on Nigerians by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) authorities” and “resumption of flights operations to Nigeria by Emirates and Etihad Airlines”, neither of the two things have happened five months after.
This is even as Nigerians in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have decried the delay in resolving the diplomatic row between Nigeria and the Middle East country which dates back to 2022 when Emirates Airlines suspended flights operations from Nigeria to UAE and vice versa on the accounts of violations of COVID-19 protocols but principally for the reasons of the airline’s trapped foreign exchange on sales of flight tickets.
Also, UAE had slammed visa ban on Nigerians and tossed the Resident/Work Permits of Nigerians already working in the Emirates at the same period citing high crime waves and violations of COVID-19 protocols, an action which strained the relationship between the two nations during the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
However, on Thursday, August 24, 2023, the incumbent President, Asiwsju Bola Ahmed Tinubu while receiving Letters of Credence from three envoys at the State House, Presidential Villa, Abuja three envoys- Ambassador of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Mr. Awall Wagris Mohammed; Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba, Mrs. Miriam Morales Palmero, and Ambassador of United Arab Emirate, Salem Saeed Al-Shamsi, called for an immediate resolution to the disagreements between Nigeria and United Arab Emirates which has affected Emirate Airlines and issuance of visas to Nigeria.
Speaking specifically to the UAE Ambassador, the President had directed that issues affecting relations with the Emirates Airline, and issuance of visas to Nigerians should be “immediately’’ resolved, emphasizing that he stands prepared to “personally’’ intervene.
“We are a family with UAE, we only live in separate rooms, but we are in the same house. We should look at the issues as a family problem, and resolve it amicably. As you know in every family, there are peculiarities. You can have an erring son or daughter, but we must work together. We need to agree on core aviation and immigration issues,” the President stated.
Responding. the Ambassador of UAE said he already sees himself as a “Nigerian’’ considering the historical antecedents of the country, its long-standing leadership role in Africa, and its reputation for hospitality to strangers.
“Since I arrived in the country, I have been working on 24 agreements. We are getting somewhere. These are small issues, all within a family, and they will be resolved. I am grateful to be here in Nigeria. I am also very grateful to meet His Excellency, President Tinubu, who is a great leader in Nigeria, and Africa. Please accept me as a Nigerian and consider me a member of your team,” he appealed.
But after waiting indefinitely for the Nigeria and UAE issues to be resolved, the Nigerian leader on Sunday, September 10, 2023 headed to Abu Dhabi to meet his UAE counterpart while returning from a trip to India to address the general visa ban imposed on Nigerians and nearly 20 other nationals, mostly Africans, from entering its territory in 2022, citing a crime wave as well as the long-drawn dispute between Emirates Airlines and the Nigerian government.
A top Foreign Affairs Ministry official had told the media that Tinubu was determined to end the bilateral dispute between both countries that led to the suspension of flight operations to Nigeria in October 2022, amid claims of their trapped Emirates funds in Nigeria’s central bank. UAE also banned Nigerians and nearly 20 other nationals, most Africans, from entering its territory, citing a crime wave.
Also, Presidential spokesman Chief Ajuri Ngelale who confirmed the resolution moves by Tinubu in a State House press releases kept Nigerians updated on the meeting of the UAE President, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayad Al Nahyan and President Tinubu in Abu Dhabi.
Meanwhile, on Monday, September 11, 2023, Ngelale in a statement titled: “UAE lifts visa ban on Nigerians after Tinubu’s diplomatic meeting with Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan” had told the world that UAE has lifted its visa ban on Nigerian travellers while Emirates Airlines and Etihad Airways will resume flights operations to Nigeria immediately after one year the UAE imposed a visa ban on Nigerians shortly after Emirates Airlines suspended flights to Nigeria.
Said the Presidential spokesperson in a press statement he released from UAE: “This decision was made following a meeting between President Bola Tinubu and UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi. In addition to this historic agreement, Etihad Airlines and Emirates Airlines will promptly resume their flight schedules to and from Nigeria without further delays.
“As negotiated between the two Heads of State, the immediate resumption of flight activity through these two airlines between the two countries does not require any immediate payment by the Nigerian government”.
Despite the glaring facts that UAE are not going to play “Father Christmas” to Nigeria because of the outstanding issues which led to the October 2022 UAE’s imposition of a visa ban on Nigerians shortly after Emirates Airlines suspended flights to Nigeria. The decision was reportedly made in response to Nigeria’s inability to repatriate billions of dollars in trapped funds.
Recall Nigeria was alleged to have withheld revenue worth more than $700 million earned by international carriers operating in the country, according to the global airline industry group IATA, a situation which will not allow Emirates Airlines to resume flights operations without getting receiving its money.
But Ngelale insisted that
in recognition of President Tinubu’s economic development diplomacy drive and proposals, an agreed framework has been established, which will involve several billions of U.S. dollars worth of new investments into the Nigerian economy across multiple sectors, including defence, agriculture and others, by the investment arms of the Government of the United Arab Emirates.
“The two countries also agreed on a framework which will involve several billions of dollars worth of new investments from the UAE to Nigeria”.
“The investments would be in various sectors, including defence and agriculture”, the spokesman said without giving further details.
Curiously, UAE was silent on visa ban removal and resumption of Emirates and Etihad Airlines flight operations in and out of Nigeria and this was explained right away in the statement issued by the UAE Embassy which insists “there was no mention of Dubai visa ban removal or flight resumption by Emirates or Etihad Airlines”.
A statement by the UAE Embassy the same day stated clearly that during the meeting, which took place at Qasr Al Shati in Abu Dhabi, Shiek Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE.
The statement said the UAE President only congratulated Tinubu on assuming the Presidency earlier in 2023 and wished him every success in leading Nigeria and its people to further progress and prosperity.
“His Highness expressed his hope that the two leaders will work together to reinforce ties between the UAE and Nigeria for the benefit of both countries.
“The UAE President and Nigerian President explored opportunities for further bilateral collaboration in areas that serve both countries’ sustainable economic growth, including the economic, development, energy, and climate action fields.
“The two sides also exchanged views on several regional and international developments of interest,” the UAE statement read.
According to the UAE Embassy, the meeting discussed the upcoming COP28 climate conference which was to take place in the UAE later last year, with both parties stressing the vital importance of encouraging and enabling international cooperation to tackle global issues, including climate change.
“Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, was said to have underscored the UAE’s ongoing commitment to fostering ties with countries with the same aspirations for stability, sustainable growth, and development and prosperity for their people.
“He further emphasised the importance of the relationship with Nigeria within its strategic vision for relations with the African continent.
“The President of Nigeria expressed his pleasure in visiting the UAE and affirmed his country’s keenness to enhance bilateral cooperation further to support sustainable development and progress in both countries”, the UAE Embassy statement stressed.
Prompt News can confirm the euphoria of the Nigerian government scoring a big diplomatic goal according to the Presidential spokesperson has waned even as the refutal of the claims by the Presidency that “UAE has lifted its visa ban on Nigerian travellers while Emirates Airlines and Etihad Airways will resume flights operations to Nigeria without further delay”, by the UAE embassy has not been countered by the federal government till date.
Worse still, four months after the Abu Dhabi Meeting between the Presidents of UAE and Nigeria, visa ban on Nigerians are yet to be lifted and resumption of suspended flight operations by Emirates Airlines and Etihad Airways have not happened. READ ALSO:
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A visit to Emirates Airlines Country Office in the Central Business District (CBD), Abuja after the Christmas and New Year holidays showed that the once busy office has become a ghost town as only one staff and a security guard were seen at the premises with the place looking poorly lit.
The staff who pleaded anonymity painted a picture of a gloomy situation in the company, lamenting the turn of events as the suspension of services by Emirates Airlines is causing depression or despondency to the staff.
“The suspension of flight operations by Emirates Airlines has caused us our jobs. We had over 35 staff working in our office here in CBD location have laid off. Some have resigned on their own. I am only here to take care of the of the office equipment and make sure they are not damaged by rodents”, the staff said.
He bemoaned the inability of the Nigerian government to resolve the lingering diplomatic row with UAE and start release of the Emirates Airline trapped funds in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Said he: “The lingering problems which gave rise to the suspension of flight operations by Emirates Airlines has resulted to economic losses.
This is because the aviation sector have a chain of other activities that go with it like the travel agents who sell tickets for airlines and catering services companies that supply food to the airlines.
“All these people are affected by the suspension of flight operations by Emirates Airlines as they have lost a very important customer just as the financial implications are huge to calculate”.
He also denied any knowledge of date of resumption of flight operations as claimed by the Nigerian authorities, pointing out that any directive of resumption of flights between UAE and Nigeria will come from UAE government as the airline is a subsidiary of The Emirates Group, which is wholly owned by the government of Dubai’s Investment Corporation of Dubai.
Also, a Lagos-based owner of Travel Agency, Lagos, Mazi Chuks Nwosu has lamented the suspension of flight operations to Nigeria by Emirates Airlines and Etihad Airways, saying that the situation has caused the country dearly by way of lost of revenue.
Said he: “It’s unfortunate that the value chain have been affected by the suspension of flight operations by these two airlines. It means that we the travel agents, catering service providers and allied workers are hugely affected too.
“But I am not surprised that the matter has not been resolved because Emirates Airlines and Etihad Airways will insist on retrieving their trapped funds in Nigeria before the resumption of flight operations”.
According to Mazi Nwosu Etihad Airways have even suspended flight operations in Nigeria because of some policy changes before Emirates Airlines joined the train.
