Nigerians Can Now Travel To Vietnam Without Visa, All Thanks To VP Yemi Osinbajo [Details]

Nigeria and Vietnam have signed agreement on waiver of visa requirements for holders of valid diplomatic and official passports in both countries.

The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, and the Deputy Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Mr Vuong Dinh Hue, witnessed the signing at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Wednesday, October 30, 2019.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Zubairu Dada, signed on behalf of Nigeria while his counterpart, the Vietnamese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Nguyen Minh Vu, signed on behalf of his government.

Both countries agreed to waiver of visa requirements for holders of valid diplomatic and official passports.

Nigeria and Vietnam also agreed on the establishment of a joint commission on trade and strengthening bilateral ties, as well as to increase cooperation in the areas of agriculture, tourism, defence and security, among others.

They also agreed to explore other areas that would further strengthen existing platforms in order to boost economic ties between the two countries.

In his welcome address, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Zubairu Dada said that the Vietnamese delegation, led by Hue, had demonstrated willingness to strengthen relationship between Nigeria and Vietnam.

He said that the delegation had the opportunity of meeting people that matter in Nigeria, especially on the area of trade, commerce and investment.

“Indications are that their engagements are very fruitful and they are willing to take the relationship to the next level.

“On our part, we are, ready and willing to reciprocate; to pick up the challenge they have thrown to us.

“This evening, we, signed an agreement on waiving Visa for people carrying diplomatic passport,” he said.

Osinbajo, on his part said that Hue was his long-lost brother as both of them were born in the same year and same month– March, 1957.

Osinbajo added that he and Hue were both lecturers and professors.

He said that Nigeria and Vietnam had maintained long standing diplomatic relations since 1976 but no high-level engagements.

“So, this visit is very significant because we will be looking at the possibility of setting up a bilateral commission between Vietnam and Nigeria so that we can concretise the existing areas of cooperation that we discussed earlier today.

“I am confident that we can build on the successes recorded in the past while we work on boosting cooperation in business, trade and investment and social and cultural relationship between both countries.

“We agreed on promoting a friendly football match between Vietnam and Nigeria.

“The Super Eagles and the Vietnamese national team and as well the female national team of Vietnam and our Super Falcons.

“First toast to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; long live the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; the next will be the Federal Republic of Nigeria, long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria,’’ he said.

In his response, Hue said that Nigeria and Vietnam had a lot of things in common.

He said that aside boosting economic and trade ties, there was need to enhance cultural relationship.

Hue said that the Vietnamese national team was a strong side in Asia and that he was looking forward to a friendly match between both male and female national teams of both countries.