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UAE lifts visa ban on Nigerians, resumes flight operations

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The United Arab Emirates, on Monday, lifted its months-long visa ban on Nigerians.

Consequently, Etihad and Emirates Airlines will resume flight operations in Nigeria immediately.

“President Bola Tinubu and President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on Monday in Abu Dhabi, have finalised a historic agreement, which has resulted in the immediate cessation of the visa ban placed on Nigerian travellers.

“Furthermore, by this historic agreement, both Etihad Airlines and Emirates Airlines are to immediately resume flight schedules into and out of Nigeria, without any further delay,” the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, revealed in a statement he signed Monday.

The statement is titled ‘President Tinubu secures landmark deal with United Arab Emirates across sectors; visa ban on Nigerian travellers is lifted immediately.’

Monday’s resolution followed talks between Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu and his Emirati counterpart, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

It also comes nearly three weeks after the President expressed his willingness to personally intervene to end the nearly one-year ban.

“We are family with the UAE; we only live in separate rooms but in the same house. We should look at the issues as a family problem and resolve it amicably. As you know, in every family, there are peculiarities.

“You can have an erring son or daughter, but we must work together. We need to agree on core aviation and immigration issues,” Tinubu told the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Salem Saeed Al-Shamsi, at the State House on August 24, 2023.

It marked the first occasion in which Tinubu addressed the deadlock that led to the suspension of flights to Nigeria by Emirates, the UAE’s national carrier.

In October 2022, the UAE banned nationals of about 20 African countries from entering its borders.

“This is to inform you that we will not be posting 30 days visa applications for these nationalities effective today, October 18, 2022,” the notice partly read.

Affected countries include Uganda, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Cameroon, Nigeria, Liberia, Burundi, Republic of Guinea, Gambia, Togo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, Benin, Ivory Coast, Congo, Rwanda, Burkina Faso, Guinea Bissau, Comoros, and the Dominican Republic.

In a notice issued to trade partners, including travel agents, Emirati authorities demanded that all applications be rejected.

“Any applications from the above-mentioned countries will be sent back or cancelled,” said the notice. However, it does not affect persons holding diplomatic passports.

Since the ban, the UAE and Nigeria have been locked in a diplomatic row over issues involving flight allocations and travel restrictions.

In February, former President Muhammadu Buhari appealed to Al Nahyan via telephone to lift the visa ban. However, the UAE authorities rejected the request.

Explaining the recent development, the President’s spokesman noted that the immediate restoration of flight activity through Emirates and Etihad Airlines and between the two countries does not involve any immediate payment by the Nigerian government.

Ngelale said in recognition of Tinubu’s economic development and diplomacy drive and proposals presented to his counterpart, an agreed framework has been established.

The framework will involve “several billions of U.S. dollars’ worth of new investments into the Nigerian economy across multiple sectors, including defence, agriculture and others, by the investment arms of the Government of the United Arab Emirates,” the statement read in part.

Additionally, President Tinubu successfully negotiated a joint, new foreign exchange liquidity programme between the two Governments, which Ngelale said will be announced in detail in the coming weeks.

Tinubu commended the UAE President, Al Nahyan, for his unalloyed friendship and determined effort to join hands with him to fully normalise and reset the standard of relations between the two important countries to excellence.

The President, who ended his stopover in Abu Dhabi, is expected to return to Abuja immediately.

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Man Stabs Girlfriend To Death In Lagos

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The Lagos State police have arrested a 47-year-old man, identified as Emmanuel Chukwuma, for stabbing his 45-year-old girlfriend, Bosede Adefehinti, to death on 7th Avenue, Festac.

Naija Latest Gist learnt that the suspect, popularly known as Oliver on the street, and the deceased have been living together as boyfriend and girlfriend.

An eyewitness who spoke to Vanguard said it was not the first time the lovers had issues, adding that an inferiority complex on the part of the man had caused the fight.

He said, “Yesterday around 2:30 pm, Oliver stabbed his girlfriend, and after stabbing her, he tried to kill himself by jumping into the well, but we stopped him and called the police.

“They are not married, and this is not the first time they have had issues, but yesterday’s was beyond anything before.

“What I believe caused the fight was an inferiority complex on the man’s part because he has no job and helps his girlfriend sell herbal medicines, popularly known as Agbo—a concoction prepared from a variety of herbs.

“So most times, when he’s selling, the girlfriend leaves the shop while he remains there, sometimes receiving banter from the customers.”

Confirming the incident, the Lagos State Police Spokesman, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, said the suspect has been arrested, and the case file will be transferred to the Homicide section, Panti.

He said, “At about 3:10 pm, a distress call was received that one Emmanuel Chukwuma, aged 47 years, stabbed his girlfriend, Bosede Adefehinti, aged 45 years, to death.

“Immediately, detectives and a patrol team visited the scene of the crime. The suspect was arrested from the well where he hid.

“Photographs were taken while waiting for Lagos State health staff for the possible evacuation of the corpse to the mortuary.

“Meanwhile, the case file will be transferred to the Homicide section, Panti.”

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JUST-IN: 100 Terrorists Dead As NAF Strikes, Police Rescue Kidnap Victims In Katsina

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The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) conducted a nighttime operation in the Kuka Shidda camp, Faskari local government area of Katsina State, killing over 100 terrorists.

Naija Latest Gist reports that the operation, conducted by Operation Hadarin Daji troops, targeted a criminal group affiliated with notorious terrorist kingpin Yusuf Yellow and his close associate Rabe Imani.

In a statement from Katsina State governor’s spokesman, Ibrahim Kaula, it was revealed that more than 45 motorcycles were destroyed in the airstrikes.

He emphasized that the recent air raid by the Nigerian Air Force in the Faskari-Kankara axis had significantly disrupted the bandits’ activities there, marking the third successful development in the state.

Kaula also mentioned that a prompt response by security forces foiled a kidnapping attempt in the early hours of Sunday morning in Jibia local government area of the state, resulting in the rescue of three victims.

The statement partly read, “A credible police source disclosed that the distress call regarding abduction of some residents in Kwata area, Jibia local government area was received around 4:15 am.

“Without hesitation, a Supol led an APC patrol team to the scene. They arrived to find armed bandits holding three women captive. Acting swiftly, the team blocked the kidnappers’ escape route, leading to a confrontation. A gunfight ensued, pressuring the criminals to flee.

“Thankfully, all three kidnap victims – Ummulkhari Abubakar (23) Shafa’atu Abubakar (35), and Maryam Lawal (15) – were rescued unharmed. The team also ensured the safety of a six-month-old baby boy named Ismail Usman, who was among those abducted.

“The source indicates that the security forces exercised commendable restraint during the operation, expending only 14 rounds of ammunition and 20 smoke canisters.”

The statement emphasized that the swift response saved lives and sent a clear message to criminals that such acts will not be tolerated.

It further highlighted the NAF and local law enforcement’s firm commitment to protecting Katsina State’s citizens from criminal activities.

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Video trends as President Tinubu falls while climbing a parade car for Democracy Day celebration today (Watch)

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Video trends as President Tinubu falls while climbing a parade car for Democracy Day celebration today Watch 696x348 1

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is one of the trending conversations online as he falls while climbing a parade car for Democracy Day celebration.

This is coming after the 72-year-old president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria delivered the Democrazy Day speech.

Today, June 12th 2024 is the 25th Democrazy Day celebration of Nigeria, meaning the country is celebrating the silver anniversary of our journey in democracy.

While delivering his Democracy Day speech, Prsident Tinubu said that he was among those who took the risk to midwife the birth of democracy in the country.

He added that he understands the economic difficulties we face as a nation and by extension tells Nigerians to be more positive while promising to move Nigeria forward.

After delivering the Democrazy Day speech, Bola Ahmed Tinubu raises eyebrows online as he falls while climbing a parade car for Democracy Day celebration today.

The security details had to quickly rushed to him after he fell down and tried to raise him up.

Watch the video below;

 

See reactions below;

tufab: Please sir don’t fall. You must finish your 12 years tenure oo. 🙏.

sonita_the_virtuous_girl: If this falling sweet you gather here>>>>😂😂😂.

veevyann: Naso prices of Foodstuffs go take fall this week in Jesus name🤲🏾.

lyric_onyems: Nice one! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂.

nkemakonamu’: We are still standing on your mandate and you are already falling 😞.

castroevans1:He will be flown abroad and billions will be spent for his check-up… meanwhile, the common won’t be able access Healthcare, meanwhile doctors here would be paid a meagre stipend called salary…

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