President Tinubu Vows to Address UAE Relations Issues

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has instructed the immediate resolution of issues affecting Nigeria's relations with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), specifically concerning Emirates Airline operations and visa issuance for Nigerians. During a meeting with Salem Saeed Al-Shamsi, UAE ambassador to Nigeria, Tinubu emphasized his readiness to personally intervene and resolve areas of conflict.

Tinubu underscored the analogy of Nigeria and the UAE being part of the same family, residing in different rooms of the same house. He urged both nations to address these disagreements as a family issue and find amicable solutions.

“We need to agree on core aviation and immigration issues,” Tinubu remarked, seeking common ground between the two countries.

Ambassador Al-Shamsi reciprocated Tinubu's sentiments, assuring that the ongoing disagreements would be resolved harmoniously. He pointed out his efforts to work on 24 agreements since his arrival in Nigeria, with progress being made towards resolution.

“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,” Al-Shamsi conveyed.

The diplomatic tensions between Nigeria and the UAE began in August 2022 when Emirates Airline suspended its flight operations to Nigeria due to difficulties repatriating earnings worth $85 million. Subsequently, UAE immigration authorities imposed a visa application ban on Nigerians, with the UAE government stating that the suspension would persist until issues were resolved between both countries.

President Tinubu's commitment to addressing these challenges underscores the importance of bilateral relations and diplomatic cooperation.