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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
President Bola Tinubu and President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the United Area Emirates, have finalised a historic agreement, which has resulted in the immediate suspension of the visa ban placed on Nigerian travellers.
Also, both Etihad Airlines and Emirates Airlines are to immediately resume flight schedules into and out of Nigeria, without any further delay.
A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, said the historic agreement was reached during a meeting between the two presidents in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on Monday.
“As negotiated between the two Heads of State, this immediate restoration of flight activity, through these two airlines and between the two countries, does not involve any immediate payment by the Nigerian government.
“In recognition of President Tinubu’s economic development diplomacy drive and proposals today presented to his counterpart, an agreed framework has been established, which will involve several billions of U.S. dollars worth of new investments into the Nigerian economy across multiple sectors, including defence, agriculture and others, by the investment arms of the Government of the United Arab Emirates.
“Additionally, President Tinubu is pleased to have successfully negotiated a joint, new foreign exchange liquidity programme between the two governments, which will be announced in detail in the coming weeks,” Ngelale said.
According to Ngelale, Tinubu commended the UAE President, Al Nahyan, for his unalloyed friendship and his determined effort to join hands with him to fully normalise and reset to excellence, the standard of relations between the two important countries.