Travel Entry: Bahamas To Sign Visa Waiver Agreement With Nigeria

Nigeria and the Commonwealth of the Bahamas are committed to signing a visa waiver agreement for Diplomatic and Official Passports holders of both countries. The Prime Minister of the Bahamas, Philip Davis made the commitment when Ambassador Benaoyagha Okoyen, the High Commissioner of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the Commonwealth of The Bahamas paid him courtesy visit. A statement from the Nigerian Embassay in Havana stated that Okoyen paid Davis a courtesy visit, in the presence of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Bahamas, Mr Fred Mitchel, at Nassau on Monday. Okoyen is the Nigeria’s Ambassador to Cuba with concurrent accreditation to the Bahamas, Republic of Nicaragua and Honduras. According to the statement, the purpose of the proposed agreement between Nigeria and the Bahamas is to facilitate the entry of citizens of the Government of both countries who are holders of valid diplomatic and official passports, into their respective countries. “The Agreement once concluded would further protect the interest of both countries and strengthen their friendly relations.” Okoyen, attended the various sessions of the Bahamas 2023 Diplomatic Week that celebrated “50 years of Foreign Relations and beyond in an independent Bahamas” between 22-27 October, 2023. He also participated in a hybrid High Level Panel Discussion on “Diplomacy and the next Generation” along with other representatives of the Bahamas, China, Indonesia, USA, and participating students from various schools in the country. While in Nassau, Okoyen also paid a courtesy visit on the Governor-General of the Bahamas, Ms. Cynthia Pratt, who bid the high commissioner farewell as he took formal leave of the host authority in the Bahamas.

UAE Lifts Visa Ban on Nigerian Travelers After Parley With Tinubu

*President Secures Landmark Deal with UAE After nearly a year, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has officially lifted the visa ban imposed on Nigerian travelers. This significant development follows a historic agreement reached between President Bola Tinubu and UAE’s President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Monday in Abu Dhabi. Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, made this announcement in a statement on Monday. Under this groundbreaking agreement, both Etihad Airlines and Emirates Airlines will promptly resume their flight schedules into and out of Nigeria. Importantly, there will be no immediate financial burden on the Nigerian government as part of this arrangement. The statement also highlighted the economic implications of this landmark deal. As a result of President Tinubu’s economic development initiatives and proposals, an agreed framework has been established. This framework will pave the way for substantial investments amounting to billions of U.S. dollars into various sectors of the Nigerian economy and these investments will encompass areas such as defense, agriculture, and more, facilitated by the investment arms of the UAE Government, Ngelale explained. Furthermore, President Tinubu also successfully negotiated a joint foreign exchange liquidity program between the two nations and the Presidency said the full details this program will be disclosed in the coming weeks. President Tinubu expressed his appreciation for the UAE President’s unwavering friendship and commitment to collaborating in order to fully restore and enhance the quality of relations between the two countries. It’s worth noting that the UAE had previously banned nationals from approximately 20 African nations, including Nigeria, from entering Dubai in October. This decision had elicited various reactions, and President Tinubu had pledged to address the issue once elected, ultimately leading to this positive resolution.