Just in: UAE lifts visa ban on Nigerians as Tinubu seeks to clean up Buhari, APC mess

Determined to clean up the mess caused by his party and its last administration, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on Monday in Abu Dhabi, have finalized a historic agreement, which has resulted in the immediate cessation of the visa ban placed on Nigerian travelers.

Furthermore, by this agreement, both Etihad Airlines and Emirates Airlines are to immediately resume flight schedules into and out of Nigeria, without any further delay.

As negotiated between the two Heads of State, this immediate restoration of flight activity, through these two airlines and between the two countries, does not involve any immediate payment by the Nigerian government.

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In recognition of President Tinubu’s economic development diplomacy drive and proposals today presented by President Tinubu to his counterpart, 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 defense, agriculture among others, by the investment arms of the Government of the United Arab Emirates.

Additionally, President Tinubu is pleased to have successfully negotiated a joint, new foreign exchange liquidity programme between the two Governments, which will be announced in detail in the coming weeks.

Although supporters of the president have hailed the move as a landmark achievement, critics have argued that it is a case of Tinubu attempting to clean up the mess created by his party and Buhari. “

Said a critic: When APC came into power in 2015 Nigeria had thriving bilateral air travel and diplomatic relationship with the UAE. APC should simply return Nigeria to where they met it.”