400 Nigerians Deported From UAE Amid Ongoing Diplomatic Tensions Arrives at Abuja Airport
In a new move that points to complexities in the Diplomatic relations between Nigeria and the government of the United Arab Emirates, no fewer than 400 Nigerians who were reportedly deported from the Arab country have returned to Nigeria.
By: Abdulwasiu Akintunde
According to a report from the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), 400 Nigerians have been deported from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and have returned to Nigeria.
OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News gathered that the group, which included 90 females and 310 males, was welcomed at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport by officials from the Office of the National Security Adviser in Abuja.
They were joined by representatives from the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and other key stakeholders.
The incident comes as diplomatic tensions between Nigeria and the UAE continue, which began nearly two years ago when the UAE imposed a visa ban on Nigerian citizens.
The ban followed various disputes, including a major conflict involving Dubai’s Emirates Airline, which ceased operations in Nigeria due to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s inability to remit $850 million in revenue to the UAE.
OTN News recalls that earlier this year, after several rounds of negotiations, the Nigerian Government announced that it had paid 98 percent of the outstanding amount, and progress was being made toward lifting the visa restrictions.
In July 2024, the UAE Government officially lifted the ban on Nigerians, signaling a potential easing of relations. However, the deportations highlight the ongoing complexities in the diplomatic relationship between the two countries.
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