Four hundred Nigerians, including 90 women and 310 men, have been deported from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and have arrived back in Nigeria. The deportees landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, where they were received by a team from the Office of the National Security Adviser in collaboration with 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 stakeholders.
The recent deportation follows a similar repatriation effort in July 2024, when 190 Nigerians were sent back from the UAE. This action comes amidst ongoing diplomatic tensions between Nigeria and the UAE, which have seen a series of disputes affecting travel and financial transactions between the two countries.
The diplomatic friction between Nigeria and the UAE has been a long-standing issue, with one of the major disputes stemming from a visa ban imposed by the UAE on Nigerian travelers nearly two years ago. This ban was partly due to a financial disagreement involving Emirates Airline and the Central Bank of Nigeria, which resulted in a halt of flights and an outstanding payment of approximately $850 million.
Despite these tensions, there have been recent signs of reconciliation. In June 2024, Nigeria and the UAE made progress towards resolving their disputes, including the payment of nearly all the outstanding revenue. By July 2024, the UAE announced the lifting of visa restrictions on Nigerian travelers.
However, the latest deportation suggests that there are still unresolved issues between the two nations. While diplomatic negotiations continue, the repatriation of these 400 Nigerians underscores the ongoing challenges in the bilateral relationship between Nigeria and the UAE.
