Mass Deportation: 400 Nigerians Return From UAE, Received By Nigerian Authorities...READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE ▶▶
On September 11, 2024, 400 Nigerians, including 90 females and 310 males, were deported from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
The deportees were received by officials from the Office of the National Security Adviser in collaboration with several agencies, including the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
The deportation highlights the ongoing diplomatic tensions between Nigeria and the UAE. These tensions, which started nearly two years ago, led to the UAE imposing a visa ban on Nigerians, and Dubai’s Emirates Airline halting flights to Nigeria due to a financial dispute involving an $85 million revenue remittance. Despite several rounds of negotiations and partial payments made by Nigeria to resolve the issue, diplomatic challenges persist.
In July 2024, the UAE lifted its visa restrictions on Nigerians after Nigeria had reportedly paid 98% of the $850 million owed. However, the deportation of these 400 Nigerians indicates that relations between the two countries remain strained despite the progress in resolving travel restrictions.
The Nigerian government has assured citizens that efforts to fully resolve the diplomatic issues are ongoing.
