Four hundred Nigerians have been deported from the United Arab Emirates and arrived back in Nigeria on Wednesday. The deportees, consisting of 90 females and 310 males, were received at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
The reception was managed by the Office of the National Security Adviser, in collaboration with the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and other relevant stakeholders.
This latest repatriation follows a previous incident in July 2024, when 190 Nigerians were deported from the UAE amid ongoing diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
The diplomatic strains have been primarily attributed to issues such as Dubai’s Emirates Airline halting flights to Nigeria over unresolved financial matters. The Central Bank of Nigeria was unable to remit an estimated $850 million in revenue to the UAE, exacerbating the conflict.
In response to these tensions, the Nigerian government has engaged in several rounds of negotiations with UAE authorities. Progress was made when it was announced that Nigeria had paid 98 percent of the owed amount, signaling a potential resolution. Additionally, the UAE government lifted its visa restrictions on Nigerians in July 2024, a move that was expected to ease travel and diplomatic relations between the two nations.
Despite these developments, the recent deportation reflects ongoing complexities in the bilateral relationship. The Nigerian government and various agencies continue to work on resolving outstanding issues and addressing the concerns of returning citizens.
