President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is said to be upset by rumours of a plan to normalise relations between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
According to Foxiz Nigeria, the presidential spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, stated earlier this week that UAE had eased its visa ban on Nigerian visitors.
He stated that the decision was made after Tinubu visited with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi on Monday.
“By this historic agreement, both Etihad Airlines and Emirates Airlines are to immediately resume flight schedules into and out of Nigeria,” Ngelale stated.
However, the Emiratis eventually made a counter-statement that sounded like a disclaimer, prompting Nigeria to back down. The reaction to Nigeria’s announcement in Abu Dhabi was described as “furious,” “deeply upset,” and “shocked” by diplomatic sources.
“There have been no changes in the Nigeria/UAE travel status so far,” an official from the UAE told CNN.
According to multiple diplomatic sources, the unanticipated delay in resolving the matter between the two countries could be attributed to a “mis-briefing” on the general scope of the conversations between the visiting Nigerian authorities and their Emirati counterparts.
“What was characterised as the resumption of flights and the restoration of normal ties was clearly malicious exaggeration,” one diplomatic source said. “Nosuch commitments were requested, discussed, or accepted.”
According to another report, only the Nigerian President and National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, attended the meeting with UAE President, Mohamed bin Zayed al Nahyan, in Qasr Al Shati, Abu Dhabi.
“It’s difficult to understand where the mis-briefing that led to the Nigerian report happened,” claimed another diplomatic source.
“Perhaps it was some members of the Nigerian delegation who were eager to make political capital out of the visit by extracting far more than it actually promised.” “Ask your employees where they got their report.”
According to sources, Tinubu expressed “deep embarrassment” and has requested a probe into how the Nigerian statement was released.
According to sources, the UAE agreement, namely ticket sales of roughly $85 million, is stalled at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and visa limitations due to charges of misconduct against some Nigerian applicants necessitate careful treatment.
“Of course, the UAE would like to expand bilateral relations with Nigeria, but they are unlikely to do so unless they are certain of what they will receive in return,” a diplomatic source said.
“You are aware that the total outstanding to foreign airlines tied down in the CBN is approximately $743 million,” one aviation insider said on Friday. “Other airlines are also keeping an eye on how the Nigerian government handles the Emirate Airlines case.”
