By Our Reporter
Four hundred Nigerians have been deported from the United Arab Emirates and have arrived in Abuja, according to Nigerian Television Authority.
The deportees, including 90 women and 310 men, were welcomed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport by officials from the Office of the National Security Adviser, along with 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 relevant bodies.
In July 2024, the Federal Government had previously repatriated 190 Nigerians from the UAE, amid ongoing diplomatic tensions between the two nations. The UAE had imposed a visa ban on Nigerians nearly two years ago, largely due to a dispute involving Dubai’s Emirates Airline and the Central Bank of Nigeria over approximately $850 million in unpaid revenue.
Recent negotiations led to a partial resolution, with Nigeria paying 98 percent of the owed amount. In July 2024, the UAE announced it had lifted the visa restrictions on Nigerians.
Despite this development, the deportation reflects the continuing complexities in diplomatic relations between the countries, which may involve unresolved issues.