The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has denied any association with a website referenced by Nigerian Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, purportedly for verifying visa applications by Nigerians.
According to The Cable report, the UAE clarified that it did not lift its visa ban on Nigerians as announced by Minister Idris, and no diplomatic agreements were made between the two governments to that effect.
Minister Idris had announced on Monday that the UAE had lifted its visa ban on Nigerians, outlining conditions including obtaining a Document Verification Number (DVN) from a website he publicized. This website allegedly required a non-refundable verification fee of N640,000 per application, excluding VAT, and proof of a $10,000 bank balance.
An investigation by West Africa Weekly’s Editor-in-Chief, David Hundeyin, revealed that the website in question was dubious and likely aimed at defrauding unsuspecting Nigerians. In response, the UAE’s Department of Economy and Tourism confirmed to The Cable that the website is not affiliated with the UAE government. They further stated that Nigeria remains subject to the standard visa application procedures, and they have no knowledge of the conditions or the requirement for proof of a $10,000 bank balance as claimed on the website shared by Minister Idris.