Visa Fee Hike Sparks Anger as Nigeria Lifts Travel Ban to UAE
The United Arab Emirates Government has imposed a massive visa fee hike of over 300 per cent on Nigeria, sparking outrage among air travelers. This development comes after the lifting of a visa ban on Nigeria, which was put in place due to diplomatic disputes between the two countries.
According to reports, Nigerian travelers will now have to pay a non-refundable fee of N640,000, up from the previous fee of $100 (approximately N155,500) before the visa ban was imposed. The new fee is a staggering 311.58 per cent increase, leaving many travelers fuming.
"I think this is a clear indication that the UAE government doesn’t want Nigeria in their domain," said Rose Aikigbe, a traveler at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. "How much is the United Kingdom taking? Why is the amount so out of reach?"
A father of three, Adejare Adebukola, who has two children planning to study in Dubai, begged the government to intervene and reduce the fee to make their dreams a reality. "If the government refuses to do something about this hike and the UAE government also remains adamant, I’m sorry my children will have to have a change of thought," he said.
The decision to hike the visa fee has been widely condemned, with many questioning the motives behind the sudden increase. "You think FG constant solicitation was for mere Nigerians?" asked MAYOR @Enokeran2016. "The constant appeal from the Nigerian government to lift travel bans to the UAE appears to primarily benefit wealthy individuals and politicians seeking a haven for their ill-gotten wealth, rather than ordinary Nigerians."
The Nigerian Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, announced the lifting of the ban while briefing State House correspondents on Monday. He stated that the Federal Government and UAE authorities had reached an agreement vacating travel restrictions imposed on Nigerians with immediate effect.
However, the new visa fee has left many travelers feeling betrayed. "It is obvious the UAE don’t want Nigerians," said NEFERTITI with handle @firstladyship. "They reluctantly unbanned the Nigerian passport but slammed a hefty N640,000 on Nigerians. Guess what? The money is nonrefundable & has an expiration date. This is see finish."
As the news of the visa fee hike continues to spread, many are left wondering if the Nigerian government will intervene to reduce the fee and make travel to the UAE more accessible for ordinary Nigerians.
