President Bola Tinubu, on Thursday, gave a directive to immediately resolve issues surrounding Nigeria’s relations with the Emirates Airline, and issuance of visas to Nigerians by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) should be immediately’ sorted out.
Tinubu reaffirmed that he stands prepared to personally intervene on the matter.
President Tinubu gave the directive while receiving Letters of Credence from three envoys at the State House: Ambassador of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Mr. Awall Wagris Mohammed; Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba, Mrs. Miriam Morales Palmero, and Ambassador of United Arab Emirate, Salem Saeed Al-Shamsi.
Receiving the UAE Ambassador, Tinubu said: “we are a family with UAE, we only live in separate rooms, but we are in the same house. We should look at the issues as a family problem, and resolve it amicably.
“As you know in every family, there are peculiarities. You can have an erring son, or daughter, but we must work together. We need to agree on core aviation and immigration issues,” the President stated according to a statement by Presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale.
The Ambassador of UAE in his words said he already sees himself as a Nigerian considering the historical antecedents of the country.
According to him: “Since I arrived in the country, I have been working on 24 agreements. We are getting somewhere. These are small issues, all within a family, and they will be resolved. I am grateful to be here in Nigeria.
“I am also very grateful to meet His Excellency, President Tinubu, who is a great leader in Nigeria, and Africa. Please accept me as a Nigerian and consider me a member of your team,” the Envoy appealed.
Engaging further, Tinubu said African countries especially Nigeria have a better chance of overcoming economic difficulties and security challenges by looking inward for solutions and walking the talk on all of its pledges and agreements.
In other hand, Tinubu aslo meet with the Ambassador of Ethiopia, the President assured the envoy that Nigeria will continue to strengthen its ties with African countries in the areas of trade, security, and economic growth.
“Africans need to work for the progress of Africa. We should be able to resolve our internal problems, collectively. It requires a great commitment, but we must do that. No one can understand our people better than we do. Home-grown solutions are better for all of us, and the remedies will last longer,” he implored.
Mohammed congratulated the President for the historic decisions he has taken in the country, and the impact of the policies on the continent, assuring of his dedication to improve relations between Nigeria and Ethiopia.
