Tinubu to Meet UAE Leaders Over Visa, Diplomatic Controversy Today

Gistlover has it on good authority that President Bola Tinubu will have a meeting with UAE leaders at 5 PM local time today in an effort to resolve the suspension of Emirates Airline flights to Nigeria, the visa ban, and other diplomatic issues.

Festus Keyamo, the minister in charge of aviation and aerospace management, had gone to the Middle Eastern nation on Sunday night to meet with the president, who was making a stopover after leaving the G20 summit in India.

Festus Keyamo, SAN, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Management, who spoke with our correspondent, confirmed that he left on Sunday night and that officials from the two nations will meet at 5 p.m. today.

“I’m in Abu Dhabi to work with Mr. President to resolve the conjoined problems involving Dubai visas and Emirates flights to Nigeria. The minister told our correspondent that both leaders would be meeting at 5 o’clock today.

According to The PUNCH, the UAE banned Nigerians from entering without a visa in October 2022, not long after Emirates Airlines halted service to that country. According to reports, Nigeria’s failure to return billions of dollars in trapped funds prompted the action.

The UAE stopped issuing visas to potential travelers, so the Nigerian airline Air Peace, which was also operating in Dubai, also suspended its flight.

When the President hosted Salem Saeed Al-Shamsi, the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, at Aso Rock last month, he gave orders for problems affecting relations with Emirates Airline and the granting of visas to Nigerians to be “immediately” resolved, stressing that he stands ready to “personally” intervene.

“We are a family in the UAE, and although we only have our own rooms, we share a home. We should approach the problems as a family issue and find a peaceful solution. There are quirks, as you are aware, in every family. You may have a son or daughter who makes mistakes, but we still need to cooperate. Core aviation and immigration issues must be resolved, the President had stated.

Ajuri Ngelale, the presidential spokesman, revealed on Sunday that Tinubu would consult with UAE authorities on the matter.

Details to come