400 Nigerians Deported from UAE arrive at Abuja airport

One of the major issues was Emirates Airline’s halt of flights to Nigeria due to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s inability to remit an estimated $85 million in revenue to the UAE.

A batch of 400 Nigerians has been deported from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and has arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, Nigeria. The deportees, comprising 90 females and 310 males, were received by officials from the Office of the National Security Adviser, alongside other stakeholders from the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, and the National Emergency Management Agency (NAPTIP).

This latest development comes amidst ongoing diplomatic tensions between Nigeria and the UAE, which have been brewing for nearly two years. The UAE imposed a visa ban on Nigerians in 2022, citing various diplomatic disputes. One of the major issues was Emirates Airline’s halt of flights to Nigeria due to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s inability to remit an estimated $85 million in revenue to the UAE.

However, there has been progress in resolving the dispute. In June, the Nigerian government announced that it had paid 98% of the $850 million owed to the UAE, signaling a step towards lifting the visa restrictions. The UAE government later confirmed that it had lifted the visa restrictions on Nigerians with immediate effect in July.

The recent deportation of 400 Nigerians is seen as a sign that the diplomatic tensions between Nigeria and the UAE are far from over. While both nations have reportedly reached an agreement to lift travel restrictions on Nigerians, it remains to be seen how this will affect future travel between the two countries.