President Bola Tinubu yesterday directed that issues affecting relations between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as well as issuance of visas to Nigerians should be resolved immediately.
Spokesman for the president, Mr Ajuri Ngelale said in a statement that Tinubu gave the directive when he received letters of credence from the ambassador of UAE to Nigeria, Salem Al-Shamsi and two other envoys at the state house, Abuja.
The two other envoys were the ambassador of Ethiopia, Awall Mohammed and the ambassador of Cuba, Mrs. Miriam Palmero.
According to the statement, the resident emphasised that he was prepared to “personally’’ intervene in the diplomatic row between Nigeria and the UAE.
Tinubu said Nigeria and the Arab country are a family.
“We are a family with UAE, we only live in separate rooms, but we are 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 said.
Responding, the ambassador said he already considered himself as a Nigerian considering the historical antecedents of the country, its long-standing leadership role in Africa, and its reputation for hospitality to strangers.
“Since I arrived in the country, I have been working on 24 agreements. We are getting somewhere. These are small issues, all within a family, and they will be resolved. I am grateful to be here in Nigeria. I am also very grateful to meet His Excellency, President Tinubu, who is a great leader in Nigeria, and Africa. Please accept me as a Nigerian and consider me a member of your team,” he said.
In a meeting with the ambassador of Ethiopia, the president assured the envoy that Nigeria will continue to strengthen its ties with African countries in the areas of trade, security, and economic growth.
“Africans need to work for the progress of Africa. We should be able to resolve our internal problems, collectively. It requires a great commitment, but we must do that. No one can understand our people better than we do. Home-grown solutions are better for all of us, and the remedies will last longer,” he stated.
Mohammed congratulated Tinubu on the historic decisions he has taken in the country, and the impact of the policies on the continent.
He said he would dedicate himself to improving the relations between Nigeria and Ethiopia.
In another meeting with the Cuban ambassador, the president praised the Caribbean country for excelling in the advancement of indigenous medical sciences and accessible health care at the grassroots while ensuring the stability of their surrounding region.
Tinubu noted that Nigeria and Cuba share some cultural similarities that can be explored to improve the lives of citizens, especially in tourism and other economic sectors.
“We should collaborate more in science and technology, an area that will improve the lives of our people, particularly the youthful population Nigeria is so blessed with,” he added.
