The Nigerian government has assured the public that it remains committed to maintaining strong and friendly relationships with both the United States and the United Arab Emirates.
This reassurance came in a statement from Bayo Onanuga, President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, released in Abuja on Tuesday.
The announcement followed recent changes in how the US and UAE issue visas to Nigerian citizens, which have raised concerns.
According to Onanuga, Nigeria’s relevant ministries and agencies are actively working to resolve the concerns raised by the two countries through peaceful and proper discussions.
It’s important to note that the US had previously explained that its new visa policy for Nigerians was due to a high number of overstayed visas and the difficulty in confirming some applicants’ records.
The US also mentioned that this decision is part of its regular review of global visa policies, which can include changes to how many times a visa can be used or how long it remains valid.
Reacting to these developments, Onanuga said that President Tinubu has directed all federal agencies to follow international rules strictly and to improve cooperation with other countries in verifying the identities of Nigerians applying for visas.
President Tinubu also encouraged Nigerians living abroad to obey the immigration laws of their host countries and to respect the conditions of their visas or permits.
On the issue of new UAE transit visa conditions for Nigerians, the government said it hasn’t received any official message from the UAE on any updated visa rules.
The government added that any real concerns that do come up will be handled through the right diplomatic channels and in a respectful and cooperative manner.
The Tinubu-led administration stressed that it will keep working to ensure Nigerians can travel and live overseas with dignity, as part of its 4-D foreign policy and support for Nigerians in the diaspora.
In conclusion, the Federal Government highlighted its strong desire to strengthen Nigeria’s valuable relationships with the United States and the United Arab Emirates.
