HeadlineOmicron: Redlisting Nigeria Is Discriminatory - Lai Mohammed

Omicron: Redlisting Nigeria Is Discriminatory – Lai Mohammed

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December 06, (THEWILL) – The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has condemned the redlisting of Nigeria by the United Kingdom government over the two cases of the omicron variant of COVID-19 reported in the country.

THEWILL had reported that the UK on Saturday announced plans to add Nigeria to the red list of travel ban countries effective Monday, December 6, over concerns for the new Omicron variant of COVID-19, adding that Nigeria is second only to South Africa in terms of Omicron cases linked to travel.

The UK in a statement by Secretary of State for Health, Sajid Javid, said only residents and citizens of the UK and Ireland travelling from Nigeria would be allowed entry into the region, and are required to quarantine upon their arrival.

Faulting the development, Mohammed who spoke at a press briefing in Abuja on Monday, said the decision is unjust, unfair, punitive, indefensible, and discriminatory, adding that it is also not driven by science.

The minister has called on the UK government to rescind their decision immediately.

He said, “As you are aware, Britain has put Nigeria on its red list and banned foreign travels from our country. This is as a result of the discovery of COVID-19 cases – Omicron variant – in Nigeria. Britain now joins other countries, including Canada, which have taken similar action against Nigeria over Omicron.

“Let me say straight away that it’s up to the Presidential Steering Committee to respond to this action by the British government and others, and I have no doubt that the Committee will respond appropriately.

“However, as the Spokesman for the Federal Government, I can say, without mincing words, that the decision by the British government to put Nigeria on the red list, just because of less than two dozen cases of Omicron which, by the way, did not originate in Nigeria, is unjust, unfair, punitive, indefensible and discriminatory. The decision is also not driven by science.”

Lai Mohammed’s comments are the latest reaction to the red listing which has continued to stir debates in Nigeria and across the world.

Earlier, the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, expressed disappointment over the UK’s placement of Nigeria on its red list following the detection of Omicron variant.

“We were not very happy when six countries in Sub-Saharan Africa were placed on a red list and the WHO also advised against putting each other on the red list,” the minister said on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, less than one day after the UK announced the move.

“From what we know about the COVID-19, there are many ways to manage it, and besides, not much is still known about the Omicron variant. We know, for example, that there have been no fatalities.

“There have also been no reports of very severe illness. Actually, the rationale for being so hasty in putting countries on the red list is not something that is very helpful,” he said.

According to the minister, the move was ill-advised. He further noted that it would have multiple impacts on commerce, and disrupt activities during the Christmas and New Year festivities.

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