In a significant move aimed at addressing issues stemming from his party’s previous administration, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in partnership with President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has solidified a historic agreement. This landmark accord has resulted in the immediate lifting of the visa ban imposed on Nigerian travelers and the swift resumption of flight schedules into and out of Nigeria by both Etihad Airlines and Emirates Airlines.
President Tinubu underscored the importance of this agreement, stating, “Today, in Abu Dhabi, we have taken crucial steps to rectify the challenges caused by our past administration and forge a new path of cooperation with the UAE.”
Notably, this restoration of air travel between the two nations does not entail any immediate financial obligations for the Nigerian government. The agreement further includes a comprehensive framework for substantial investments, totaling several billion U.S. dollars, to be injected into Nigeria’s economy. These investments will span various sectors, including defense and agriculture, and will be facilitated by UAE government investment entities.
In a move aimed at bolstering economic stability and exchange rate management, President Tinubu revealed that a new joint foreign exchange liquidity program has been successfully negotiated between the two governments. Detailed information about this program will be disclosed in the coming weeks.
While supporters of President Tinubu have hailed this agreement as a historic achievement in diplomacy and economic development, critics argue that it is an attempt to address issues left unresolved by his party and the previous administration under President Buhari.
A critic remarked, “When APC came into power in 2015, Nigeria had a thriving bilateral air travel and diplomatic relationship with the UAE. APC should simply return Nigeria to where they met it.” This viewpoint underscores the need for addressing and restoring previous diplomatic and economic relations.
