The federal government has clarified issues surrounding a recent viral showing Nigerians who were denied entry to Dubai.
Recall that on Wednesday, a viral video of Nigerians reportedly stranded at the Dubai International Airport surfaced on the social media, with a Twitter user, @dunchichi, saying at least 20 Nigerians were stuck at the airport and their passports seized.
The development elicited reactions on the social media platforms with Nigerians criticising the ill-treatment of the travellers.
Reacting to the development, the ministry of foreign affairs explained that Nigerians who were denied entry had no family members in the country.
Spokesperson for the ministry, Ms. Francisca Omayuli, said in a statement that the UAE authorities had stopped issuing tourist visas to persons under the age of 40 years, except for those applying for family visas.
that Nigerians who were denied entry had no family members in the country.
The statement reads: “The attention of the Federal Government of Nigeria has been drawn to a video on social media, showing purportedly stranded Nigerians, who arrived the Airport in Dubai, UAE on 29th August 2022, but were denied entry into the country, despite having valid 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 members. Consequently, they were denied entry and advised to return to their country and apply for the appropriate visas.
“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.”
