By Adetutu Folasade-Koyi and Aidoghie Paulinus, Abuja

the The federal government has rejected the UK’s entry ban for Nigerians and placed the country on a red list.

UK restrictions on Nigerians went into effect yesterday after the Omicron variant of COVID-19 was discovered first in South Africa and later in Nigeria. On Sunday, the UK High Commissioner in Nigeria announced the UK’s decision to add Nigeria to the list after nine African countries had been redlisted. Britain has also suspended visa services for Nigerians; with “very limited exemptions from travel and entry requirements for critical workers, medical and compassionate cases”.

However, a waiver has been made for citizens entering from Nigeria but who would have to pay £ 2,285 for a 10-day quarantine.

However, the federal government has reiterated that the UK’s decision was discriminatory, punitive, unfair and unscientific and has called for a review.

“We sincerely hope that the UK government will immediately review and immediately revoke the decision to put Nigeria on the Red List. Nigeria has mastered the COVID-19 pandemic with the greatest responsibility and science-based science, and has rightly earned global awards for its efforts. Nigeria is not on the red list of any country, ”said Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister for Information, National Orientation and Culture, at a press conference in Abuja yesterday.

When asked why President Muhammadu Buhari did not postpone the visit of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to Nigeria after the Omicron variant was discovered in the country, he replied, “As we speak today, no one has died from the Omicron variant. South Africa was fortunate to have an excellent research center that was dragged into South Africa by foreigners from Botswana … The Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19 considered the visit and decided that proper protocol was being followed, the President’s visit did not have to be suspended. “

Mohammed also announced that the PSC would make a decision soon if Britain refuses to review its travel ban and Red List.

“Britain’s reaction can only be based on discrimination and prejudice. The truth is that if the pandemic isn’t killing the way they think it should, then it is not underreporting. I don’t think these adverse predictions of deaths in Africa are based on science. “

The appropriate response to the UK would be from the President’s Steering Committee on COVID-19. Where does this variant come from? It’s definitely not Africa, it’s definitely not Nigeria. Countries in Europe where the same variant was discovered were not included in the travel ban. Even if 21 cases were discovered, does that qualify us for a travel ban? The ban is unjust, unjust and discriminatory.

“… However, as the spokesman for the federal government, I can say without further ado that the decision of the British government to put Nigeria on the red list, just because of fewer than two dozen Omicron cases, which incidentally does not originate in Nigeria, is unfair, unfair, punitive, unjustifiable and discriminatory. The decision is not driven scientifically either.

“How can you attribute such a discriminatory action to a country of 200 million people because of fewer than two dozen cases? While UK citizens and Nigerian residents are allowed to enter, non-residents from the same country are prohibited. The two groups come from the same country but are subject to different conditions. Why will the UK not allow people in both categories to enter and face the same testing and quarantine conditions? For this reason, this decision to ban travelers from Nigeria who are neither citizens nor residents is grossly discriminatory and punitive.

“Let me take this opportunity to highlight the fact that a travel ban, as has been imposed in some African countries, is a knee-jerk reaction that can only be detrimental to our efforts to fight this pandemic most conclusively.

“Why can’t the world seriously consider the issue of vaccine access and make sure it is based on principles based on the right of every human being? to enjoy the highest attainable level of health without discrimination on the basis of race, religion, political conviction, economic or other social situation. “

• UK public health decision

However, the UK has stated that the decision cannot be changed.

UK High Commission communications chief Dean Hurlock said the decision was a precaution to protect public health in the UK.

“We know that this decision will have a significant impact on the people in both of our countries, especially at this time of year.

“This decision is a public health precaution in the UK as we try to understand this new variant. These are temporary measures put in place to prevent further Omicron cases from entering the UK and are under review at a review point. ”On 12/20

“We continue to work very closely with the Nigerian authorities to fight the pandemic and commend their ongoing work,” added Hurlock.

“Many developed countries have taken advantage of their vast resources or relationships to sign agreements with manufacturers to supply their countries with vaccines before they are made available to other countries. Even before the clinical trials were completed, millions of doses of the most promising vaccines were being purchased by the UK, US, Japan and the EU. Some of these countries bought doses five times their population, while others, especially in Africa, have little or no access to vaccines. This is the real problem that needs to be resolved instead of taking the simple route of travel bans that the UN Secretary-General called Travel Apartheid. Let the world know that nobody is safe until everyone is safe. “

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