Following his G-20 Summit in India, President Bola Tinubu will meet with officials from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The Nigerian president has been attending the 18th G20 Leaders’ Summit, where he has urged for global unity and collaboration in addressing pressing challenges, fostering inclusion, and constructing a more equitable international order.
In a statement on Sunday, the presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, announced that Tinubu would meet UAE authorities during a technical stopover in Abu Dhabi.
“The meeting will serve as a follow-up discussion to address specific, salient issues within the bilateral relationship after conversations held during a recent visit by the UAE Ambassador to the President at the State House in Abuja,” Ngelale said.
“The President is to address lingering bilateral issues while maximizing the opportunity of the stopover to equally advance his investment promotion objectives with high-level authorities in the public and private sectors of the United Arab Emirates.”
It is however not clear what issues will be discussed, but it may not be unconnected with the visa ban slammed on Nigerians by the UAE authorities in October 2022. The ban was imposed shortly after the Emirates suspended flights over its inability to repatriate trapped funds.
Last month, President Tinubu hosted the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Salem Saeed Al-Shamsi, at Aso Rock, directing that the issues affecting relations with the Emirates Airline, and issuance of visa to Nigerians be resolved immediately.