Lai Mohammed, the Minister of Information and Culture, has criticized the United Kingdom's decision to put Nigeria on its red list because of a new COVID-19 variation known as Omicron.
Mohammed claimed the judgment is unjust, harsh, punitive, unjustifiable, and discriminatory, and that it is not based on science, during a press conference in Abuja on Monday.
He stated that he believes the Presidential Steering Committee would respond to the United Kingdom's decision.
"As you are aware, Britain has placed Nigeria on its red list, prohibiting foreign travel to our nation," he stated. This is due to the identification of COVID-19 cases in Nigeria (Omicron variant). Britain has now joined the list of countries that have taken similar measures against Nigeria over Omicron, including Canada.
"Let me state right immediately that it is up to the Presidential Steering Committee to respond to the British government's and others' actions, and I have no doubt that the Committee will do so appropriately."
"However, as the Federal Government's Spokesman, I can say unequivocally that the British government's decision to place Nigeria on the red list, based on a few dozen Omicron cases that, by the way, did not start in Nigeria, is unjust, unfair, punishing, unjustifiable, and discriminatory." The choice is also not based on scientific evidence."
Nigeria has been added to the UK's red list of countries, and harsher entry regulations will take effect on Monday, December 6 as a result of fears of an outbreak of the COVID-19 virus's Omicron strain.
Sajid Javid, the UK Secretary of State for Health, said on his verified Twitter account that only residents and citizens of the United Kingdom and Ireland traveling from Nigeria will be allowed access into the region, and that they will be quarantined upon arrival.
Disclaimer: Comments and opinions on any part of this website are the opinions of blog commenters or anonymous individuals, and do not reflect Strenuous Blog position.