The United Arab Emirates’ threat to impose a visa restriction on Nigerians, according to a coalition of youths operating under the auspices of the Nigerian Ethnic Youths Leaders Council, is an ill-conceived scheme to blackmail the government and the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The Arewa Consultative Youths Movement, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youths Movement, Oduduwa youths, and middle-belt youths are all represented in the membership of NEYLC.
The NEYLC in a statement by the Ohanaeze Secretary-General and head of its secretariat, Nwada Chiama, said the threat by UAE was due to the funds of airlines trapped in Nigeria.
The organisation recalled that Emirates Airline is owned by the government of UAE.
The statement reads, “We have no doubt that the UAE visa ban threat is a plot to blackmail Nigeria and the CBN under the leadership of Godwin Emefiele.
“We make bold to say that such step is meant to create forex instability in our dear country and destroy our economy.
“This is very clear because of the way the CBN has been dutifully releasing foreign exchange to the airlines.
“The CBN released $110m to the foreign airlines in August and is due to release another $120m on October 31.
“The UAE’s decision should be seen in the context of fighting for Ernirates Airline and nothing more.
“The move by the UAE to place visa ban on Nigerians is therefore ill-conceived and should be condemned by all lovers of the country and free trade.”
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