The Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy has distanced itself from a travel media article published on July 12, 2025, titled “A Bitter Irony: UAE’s Sanctions Undermine African Trust After Africa-Backed Win for UN Tourism Role.”

In an official statement issued by the Minister, the Ministry stated that the opinions and assertions expressed in the article do not represent the views of the Minister, the Ministry, or the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) enjoy a cordial and mutually beneficial relationship, particularly in the areas of tourism development and cultural cooperation,” the statement read.

The Ministry further clarified that the Federal Government has not received any official communication indicating a change in the UAE’s visa policy, noting that visa issuance for Nigerian citizens is continuing in an orderly manner.

Dissociating itself from the article’s claims, the Ministry urged the publisher to retract the publication in order to prevent the misrepresentation of Nigeria’s diplomatic stance.

“We reaffirm our commitment to international tourism cooperation and peaceful partnerships rooted in trust and diplomacy,” the statement concluded.