The UAE embassy has reacted to widely-shared articles and social media posts claiming that the government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has placed a ban on issuing three-month tourist visas for Nigerian passport holders.

The ban report was linked to the arrest of five Nigerians in the country in connection with a robbery incident. 

Reacting to the ban in a tweet, popular political commentator, Kayode Ogundamisi had questioned why the UAE would punish law-abiding Nigerians after five of their compatriots were allegedly involved in a robbery in the country last week.

However, a UAE government source confirmed to AFP that rumours of a ban on Nigerian three-month visas were “fake news”.

The UAE embassy in Abuja further announced that reports of visa restrictions were “inaccurate” and advised people of “the importance of sourcing news from its official channel”.

Press Statement

In light of the press reports published today alleging that the UAE has suspended issuing tourist visas to Nigerian nationals, the UAE Embassy in Abuja announces that these news are inaccurate and stresses the importance of sourcing news from its official channel pic.twitter.com/Eu9UsNlIla

— UAE Embassy in Nigeria (@UAEEmbassyNGR) April 4, 2019