COVID-19 Reports

Omicron: High Commissioner Reveals Why UK Added Nigeria to Travel Red List

Published

3 years ago

Dec 7, 2021.

Why UK Added Nigeria to Travel Red List — High Commissioner

EKO HOT BLOG reports that Catriona Laing, the British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, has revealed why the United Kingdom added Nigeria to the travel blacklist due to concerns about the newly discovered Omicron variant of Coronavirus.

According to Laing, the UK made the decision to protect its people’s public health while the government investigated the new variant.

British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing.

Despite the ban, she stated that the British government would work closely with Nigerian authorities as the world grappled with the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Laing went on to say that the decision would be reviewed three weeks later, on December 20.

According to the statement, “This decision is a precautionary measure to protect public health in the UK, whilst we try to understand this new variant,” the envoy was quoted as saying in a statement issued by Ndidiamaka Eze, Press and Public Affairs Officer, British High Commission.

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

“We continue to work very closely with the Nigerian authorities in tackling the pandemic and commend their ongoing work.”

The red list which comes to effect on December 6 means that Nigerians who do not have UK citizenship or residence permit can no longer travel to the country until the advisory is revised.

The Nigerian government has faulted the decision of the UK government, describing it as unjust and discriminatory.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, had on Monday during a press conference called the UK government to rescind its decision immediately.

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