•Abike Dabiri-Erewa
The Chairman/CEO of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Emirates, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, disclosed today, Wednesday, July 17, that another batch of 250 stranded Nigerians will be repatriated back home soon from the United Arab.
The country only recently repatriated 190 Nigerians from UAE, reports The Nation.
Dabiri-Erewa disclosed this during a courtesy visit to the United Arab Emirates Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Salem Saeed Al-Shamsi.
The meeting followed the lifting of the visa ban on Nigeria by the UAE.
The oil-rich gulf country had in 2022 October banned nationals of Nigeria and 19 other African countries from entering its capital city, Dubai.
The visit was part of the efforts towards deepening relations between both countries.
Dabiri-Erewa, according to a statement by Gabriel Odu, Media, Public Relations and Protocol unit said Nigeria intends to deepen relations.
The statement reads in part: “190 Nigerians were repatriated to Nigeria, with an additional 250 expected to return soon.”
She also noted that the actions of individuals in a host country can greatly impact the overall image of their home country.
She therefore noted that she “intends to engage and sensitize 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.
She added: “This initiative aims to foster better understanding and compliance with local regulations.”
She also noted the role of Western media imperialism in perpetuating negative stereotypes about Nigerians.
In his remarks, Amb. Salem Saeed Al-Shamsi explained that the visa ban on Nigeria has been officially lifted.
He confirmed that the Visa on Arrival policy has been cancelled for all countries, but assured that the new procedures are designed to facilitate tourism and ensure travellers’ safe return.
The Ambassador expressed his commitment to providing the best possible services for Nigerians, with the support of the determined Nigerian government.
He also acknowledged the UAE’s role in safely repatriating 96 Nigerians at no cost.
Marking his first anniversary as the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Al-Shamsi shared his positive impressions of Nigeria, describing it as a beautiful country with warm-hearted people who share similar cultural, religious, and ethnic backgrounds with the UAE.
He expressed his eagerness to continue collaborating with NiDCOM to strengthen ties between the two countries.
