Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), has revealed that 250 Nigerians are awaiting imminent repatriation from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
She made the disclosure on Tuesday during her visit to Ambassador Salem Saeed Al-Shamsi, the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria.
In a statement signed by Gabriel Odu of the Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit of NiDCOM, Dabiri-Erewa stated that her visit was to further strengthen areas of partnership and collaboration that are mutually beneficial to Nigeria and the UAE following the removal of the visa ban by the Arab country on Nigeria.
She further noted that NiDCOM intends to engage and sensitise Nigerians in the UAE to be good ambassadors of their country of stay and country of origin, to excel in whatever they are doing and never to forget home.
According to her, the “initiative aims to foster better understanding and compliance with local regulations”.
The statement also disclosed that 190 Nigerians were repatriated to Nigeria, with an additional 250 expected to return soon.
Despite the fact that the visa ban on Nigeria had been officially lifted, Ambassador Al-Shamsi however stated that the Visa on Arrival policy had been cancelled for all countries while assuring that the Arab country’s new procedures are designed to facilitate tourism and ensure travellers’ safe return.
The UAE had earlier this week lifted the visa ban on Nigerians. Nonetheless, the statement was silent on whether the imminent repatriation of Nigerians from the Arab country was part of agreement reached with the Nigerian government before lifting the visa ban.
