UAE VISA BAN ON NIGERIANS: “WE ARE NOT BOTHERED”

UAE VISA BAN ON NIGERIANS: “WE ARE NOT BOTHERED” – HADI SIRIKA.

Nigeria’s Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika has asserted that the Federal Government has no problem with the UAE’s decision to arbitrarily revoke visas of Nigerians and cancel their visa applications without refund.

On Monday, Mr Sirika said there were no grounds for the UAE to threaten Nigeria with the visa ban despite Nigeria failing to repatriate $700 million trapped funds of foreign airlines.

“If you disagree, you are supposed to come to us, and we sit down, and we negotiate and give you what we have in the hope that we finish paying. What I have a problem with are the threats,” said Mr Sirika said on Monday.

“Every country would threaten Nigeria that they would not fly to Nigeria again, that would not give Nigeria visa. They would not do operations; they would shut Lagos and Abuja. Please, countries have been shut completely, and they did well.”

Sirika stressed that "there are examples in Asia, middle East and Europe

“We are not afraid to be shut. It would make us do much better. It would make our schools and hospitals do better because necessity is the mother of invention,” Sirika added.

Recently, the UAE slammed a visa ban on Nigeria and 19 other African countries.

“This is to inform you that we will not be posting 30 days visa applications nationalities effective today, October 18, 2022,” the notice said.

Countries affected by the visa ban include Ghana, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Cameroon, Nigeria, Liberia, Burundi, Republic of Guinea, Gambia, Togo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, Benin, Ivory Coast, Congo, Rwanda, Burkina Faso, Guinea Bissau, Comoros and the Domini

can Republic.

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