Four hundred Nigerians, including 90 women and 310 men, have been deported from the United Arab Emirates and arrived at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, as reported by Nigerian Television Authority.
The deportees were welcomed by officials from the Office of the National Security Adviser, alongside representatives from the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
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This latest deportation comes amid ongoing diplomatic tensions between Nigeria and the UAE.
The UAE had previously imposed a visa ban on Nigerians due to disputes, including issues related to Emirates Airline suspending flights to Nigeria after a financial dispute involving an estimated $850 million in revenue.
In July 2024, the Nigerian government repatriated 190 Nigerians from the UAE.
Despite diplomatic strains, progress was made when Nigeria reportedly paid 98 percent of the owed funds, leading to the UAE lifting the visa ban later in July 2024.
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The recent deportation reflects the continuing complexities in Nigeria-UAE relations, even as efforts are made to resolve long-standing issues between the two nations.
