Tonye Anyanwu Faults FG’s Reported Move To Impose Travel Restrictions

Dubai-based Nigerian Techpreneur and Philanthropist Tonye ‘Anyanwu has faulted the purported federal government’s plan to impose travel restrictions on travelers coming from the United Kingdom, Argentina, Canada, and Saudi Arabia and add them to red list countries.

This move is in retaliation of these countries imposing travel restrictions on Nigeria.

In a reported leaked voice note obtained by ThisDay over the weekend, the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, had revealed that the decision to ban these countries as a retaliation would be made by the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19 latest by Tuesday.

UK, Canada and Saudi Arabia had previously banned travelers from Egypt, Nigeria, and Malawi citing fears over the new Omicron variant.

Tonye opined that the tit for tat move instead of exploring diplomatic avenues would be the wrong way to go.

“Placing travel restrictions on these countries will only exacerbate the matter, and not bode well for Nigerian travellers,” he said.

He called on the foreign ministry to seek a diplomatic solution and negotiations to get Nigeria off the red list of these countries so the travel ban can be rescinded.

He called on western Nations to treat African countries with mutual respect as allies and partners in development.

“Nigeria is a sovereign nation and it is time the West realizes that African countries have a say and should be treated fairly,” he stated.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, had earlier condemned the ban on behalf of the federal government, describing it as unjust, punitive, unfair, discriminatory and indefensible.

Tonye also known as the ‘Crypto Genie’ is an award-winning philanthropist, tech enthusiast, investor, and serial entrepreneur.

He is the CEO & Founder of technology solutions company, Connectopia Tech LLC, a Dubai based tech solutions company.