The Federal Government has reacted to a viral video showing stranded Nigerians at an airport in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.
The video had suggested the Nigerians had been denied entry into the UAE despite possessing valid visas.
In a statement signed by a Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Francisca Omayuli, the government said the stranded Nigerians did not have the correct visas.
The statement added that the UAE has stopped issuing tourist visas to persons under the age of 40 years, “except for those applying for family visas.”
“The Nigerian Mission in Dubai has clarified that most of the supposedly stranded Nigerians were issued with family visas, only to arrive Dubai alone without any family member,” the statement said.
“Consequently, they were denied entry and advised to return to their country and apply for the appropriate visas,” Omayuli said.
“However, those persons allowed entry into the country have their family members in the UAE, while those who claimed their family members were on another flight were told to wait at the airport pending their arrival.
“The general public is invited to note and be guided that the Government of the UAE has introduced a new visa regime and has stopped issuing tourist visas to persons under the age of 40 years, except for those applying for family visas.
“It is, therefore, instructive for prospective visa applicants to indicate clearly their visa preferences without any ambiguity and also respect the immigration laws of other countries so as to avoid unwarranted treatments.”
Dabiri-Erewa Reveals Why Dubai Is Denying Entry To Nigerians
The Chairperson of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has revealed some of the reasons Nigerians travellers to Dubai are being sent back home despite having valid visas.
Dabiri-Erewa said this in an August video which was reposted on the official Twitter handle of NIDCOM on Thursday, after a number of Nigerians were turned back from the Dubai airport in the last few days.
She said, “So what the Dubai authorities have done is this, they’ve made their visa processes more stringent. If you're below 30, no visa for you, male below 30. It’s very difficult, they make it so stringent that you are not likely to fulfil it, it doesn’t matter who you are.
"Secondly, if you are going to Dubai now, you have to provide a six-month bank statement, you have to have your return ticket and you must show proof of accommodation, where are you going to stay."
"If you lie about where you are going to stay, they’re going to know so they’re going to turn you back."
