News
Nigerians stranded in UAE over visa ban
Nigerians stranded in UAE over visa ban
Members of the Nigerian community in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have decried that the strained relationship between both countries is affecting their livelihoods.
Some of them living in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah told Daily Trust that because of the work permit ban slammed on Nigeria, many of them had lost their jobs; while others were being deprived of better job opportunities.
This, according to them, is in addition to various forms of discrimination facing them in their host country.
They are appealing to the federal government to urgently resolve the diplomatic row with the UAE.
Some analysts, who spoke to Daily Trust, advised them to return home, deploy their talents and develop Nigeria.
They also asked the federal and state governments to make Nigeria’s environments viable and conducive in order to reduce citizens’ desperation for greener pasture abroad.
This is just as the Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has assured that efforts towards resolving the issues had reached an advanced stage.
Since 2021, Nigeria and the UAE have been embroiled in a diplomatic spat over issues relating to flight allocations and travel bans.
READ ALSO:
- Siemens delivers $2.3bn power transformers, substations to Nigeria
- Hotel owner tortures man to death in Imo
- Abductors demand N50m ransom for abducted varsity students
Both countries have embarked on a back-and-forth since the COVID-19 pandemic as they disagreed over travel requirements.
Nigeria, in 2021, suspended Emirates Airlines; and in retaliation, the UAE barred Nigerian travelers from visiting Dubai.
After this was resolved, there was another issue between Emirates and Air Peace, Nigeria’s sole carrier flying to the UAE. In December 2021, Nigeria reduced Emirates’ 21 weekly flights to Nigeria to one for refusing to grant the three slots requested by Air Peace flying to Sharjah. The UAE later backtracked and granted Air Peace seven frequencies to Dubai.
Later in October 2022, Emirates Airlines suspended all flights to Nigeria, citing its $85 million trapped funds.
The UAE authorities followed this with a visa ban on Nigeria alongside Ghana, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Cameroon, Nigeria, Liberia, Burundi, Republic of Guinea, Gambia, Togo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, Benin and Ivory Coast.
While the ban on other nations has been lifted, that on Nigeria is yet to be removed.
Last September, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu visited the UAE for a possible resolution of the issues between both countries. He was also there in December for the United Nations Climate Change Conference where he met with the UAE authorities on the lingering issues.
Nigerians stranded in UAE over visa ban
Daily Trust
News
Just in: Tinubu swears in Rivers Sole Administrator Ibas
Just in: Tinubu swears in Rivers Sole Administrator Ibok-ete Ibas
President Bola Tinubu has sworn in Vice Vice Admiral Ibok-ete Ibas (Retd.) as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State.
The administrator was sworn in on Wednesday after a short meeting with the President.
Tinubu announced the appointment of the retired naval chief at a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, when he declared a state of emergency in Rivers State and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor, Ngozi Odu, and the state House of Assembly members.
The President said his decision was based on Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, saying he could not continue to watch the political situation in Rivers escalate without taking concrete action.
The suspension of Fubara and other elected representatives has been rejected and condemned by many eminent Nigerians, legal luminaries, groups such as Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Femi Falana, the Labour Party (LP), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Nigerian Bar Association.
However, the emergency rule has been praised by the pro-Nyesom Wike Assembly led by Martins Amaewhule, accusing Fubara of contravening the Supreme Court ruling on the political situation in the state.
Ibas was the Chief of Naval Staff from 2015 to 2021.
He is from Cross River State where he had his early education.
The new sole administrator went to the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1979 from where he proceeded to have a successful career in the Navy, rising through the ranks to the very top.
He is a member of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) and the Nigerian Institute of Management.
President Muhammadu Buhari who appointed him as Chief of Naval Staff conferred him with the National Honour of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) in 2022.
News
Breaking: Tinubu declares state of emergency in Rivers State
Breaking: Tinubu declares state of emergency in Rivers State
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday night declared a state of emergency in Rivers State following the protracted political crisis in the state.
Tinubu made the declaration during a nationwide broadcast, saying it is for six months.
He announced the suspension of the Executive Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy and all the members of the House of Assembly for six months.
He immediately named an administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Retd), to take charge of the affairs of the state for the six-month period.
Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution interprets a state of emergency as a situation of national danger or disaster in which a government suspends normal constitutional procedures to regain control.
A state of emergency allows the President to immediately make any desired regulations to secure public order and safety. (Channels TV)
News
BREAKING: Tinubu addresses Nigerians on Rivers political crisis
BREAKING: Tinubu addresses Nigerians on Rivers political crisis
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday night will hold a nationwide broadcast to address the crisis in Rivers state.
Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, said the broadcast will be transmitted by the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN).
The broadcast is expected to be held by 7pm today.
Video: President Tinubu has declared state on emergency on Rivers state effective immediately, suspends Governor Fubara, his deputy governor and house of assembly members for six months.
He also nominated an administrator pic.twitter.com/jD1g9FHOez— Nigeria Stories (@NigeriaStories) March 18, 2025
-
metro3 days agoCorper who criticised Tinubu govt under pressure to apologise, says Sowore
-
Auto2 days agoLanre Shittu Motors offers support for EV bus design competition in universities
-
International23 hours agoUK announces new passport application fees starting April 2025
-
metro3 days agoBreaking: Trans-Niger Pipeline in Rivers explodes in fire after militants threat
-
metro3 days agoHusband bound, gagged by wife, children in Ogun community rescued (video)
-
metro2 days agoIbas: 18 things to know about Rivers administrator
-
News3 days agoBreaking: Tinubu declares state of emergency in Rivers State
-
metro2 days ago
Soldiers take over Rivers Government House after state of emergency declaration