THE Federal Government has repatriated a total of 190 Nigerians from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
According to a statement by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), signed by its Director General, Director, North Central Zone, Bashir Garga, on Tuesday, the returnees were received at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja at 5:57 am, by a combined team of government officials led by NEMA.
NEMA said the returnees have been profiled and documented by the relevant agencies, and sensitized to “behave with decorum and responsibility” on their return to Nigeria.
“The federal government urges all Nigerians, wherever they may be, to act as exemplary ambassadors of their country, upholding the fundamental values of patriotism, rule of law, decency and integrity.”
It would be recalled that in October 2022, FG repatriated a total of 542 from UAE.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government said it has reached an agreement with the UAE to allow Nigerian passport holders to obtain visas for travel to that Arab nation starting July 15, 2024.
The Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this on Monday when he briefed State House correspondents following the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.
“Following successful talks and extensive, mutually beneficial negotiations between the Government of the United Arab Emirates and the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, an agreement was reached allowing for the resumption of travel to the UAE for Nigerian passport holders,” he said.
“This agreement includes updated controls and conditions to facilitate obtaining a UAE visa.
“The resumption of visas will be effective from July 15, 2024.”
The minister added that Nigerians wishing to learn more about the updated visa conditions from the UAE can visit the country’s website.
The announcement comes more than two years after the UAE suspended visa issuance to Nigerians following a period of protracted diplomatic row with Africa’s most populous nation.
It also comes about two months after UAE national carrier Emirates Airlines announced the resumption of flights to Nigeria. The airline said in May that its daily Lagos-Dubai flights would resume from October 1, 2024.