- Says Revival of Economic Relations Between UAE and Nigeria’s Is Laudable
By Ken Afor
Frontline political leader and Nigeria’s former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, has lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for resolving what many regarded as a lingering dispute between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
While weighing in on the matter, Senator Omo-Agege who was the Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress(APC) in Delta State and led the party to clinch two Senatorial Seats in the Oil-rich State said President Tinubu’s bold vision and fast-pace diplomacy anchored on his renewed hope agenda deserved to be lauded as his resolution of the UAE-Nigeria face-off will ultimately lead to restoration of not only direct flights and lifting of visa ban but also enhanced economic relations between the two countries.
It would be recalled that at the end of his visit to India for the G-20 Summit, President Tinubu had made a stop-over at the UAE where he met with the UAE President, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The meeting between the two leaders was to address concerns arising from a diplomatic face-off between the two countries, which lasted almost a year.
In October 2022, the UAE had suspended flights in and out of the Arab country from Nigeria and also placed a visa ban on Nigerian travellers to the country.
This was regarded as a diplomatic response to a policy by the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, which reportedly prevented Emirates Airlines and Etihad Airlines from immediate repatriation of funds from Nigeria to UAE, among other issues.
However, the diplomatic feud was resolved on Monday after both leaders’ bi-lateral meeting in UAE.
While weighing in on Tinubu’s bold vision and fast-pace diplomacy, Senator Omo-Agege in a statement issued by Mr Sunny Areh, his media adviser, lauded President Tinubu’s facilitation of the restoration of diplomatic relations with the UAE, while underlying the economic importance of the resolution.
“It takes a bold vision and aggressive diplomacy to revive the important economic relationship between both countries which will ultimately see the restoration of direct flights and the lifting of the visa ban,” Omo-Agege was quoted as saying.
Speaking further, Senator Omo-Agege added: “We need to harness the opportunities inherent in our relationship with major economic centres.
“That is why President Tinubu’s initiative and success recorded with his meeting with the leadership of the UAE is laudable.”
According to the former two-term Senator, Tinubu’s achievement on Monday was a reinforcement of the confidence bestowed on the President that he is capable of leading the country to economic freedom.
The statement reads in part:“It reinforces my confidence and belief in the President that he can lead Nigeria out of the present economic doldrum to the path of prosperity.”
