On Monday in Abu Dhabi, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, signed a historic agreement that resulted in the immediate lifting of the visa ban imposed on Nigerian tourists.
Furthermore, under this historic agreement, both Etihad Airlines and Emirates Airlines will restart their flight schedules into and out of Nigeria immediately and without further delay. As agreed between the two Heads of State, the Nigerian government would make no initial payment for the immediate restoration of flying operations via these two carriers and between the two nations.
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 and 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. In conclusion, the President wishes to commend the UAE President, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, for his unalloyed friendship and his determined effort to join hands with him to fully normalize and reset to excellence, the standard of relations between the two important countries.
