The Federal Government has faulted the travel ban on Nigerians by the United Kingdom over the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus.
VANTAGE NEWS had reported that the UK on Saturday night imposed a travel restriction on citizens of Nigeria following an increase in the number of cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 across the world.
The UK Secretary of State for Health, Sajid Javid, disclosed this via his official Twitter account.
Responding on Sunday, the FG ruled out the possibility of restricting foreign travellers from visiting Nigeria despite travel bans on the country by Canada, the United Kingdom, Indonesia, Singapore and Hong Kong.
The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire while appearing as a guest on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ stated that most of the in-bound passengers that tested positive for COVID-19 were from the UK.
Ehanire lamented over the reaction of some countries to the Omicron variant, adding that the world should focus on collaboration.
He added that no deaths linked to the Omicron virus had so far been recorded in any part of the world.
Ehanire said, “We are watching what the science community is saying and of course not rushing to judgment and we are also not applauding any lockdowns or any prohibitions or banning of flights or movement of people until we know more.
“We believe that the harm it will do to livelihoods and economies may be more that the perceived value that will be derived from shutting movement between countries. I believe countries should come together to take a common approach and that includes the UK and other countries contemplating a red list.”
While reacting over a large number of Nigerians testing positive abroad despite testing negative in Nigeria, the minister admitted that some passengers present fake results.
He noted that the FG had devised means of spotting fake results presented by travellers.
Disclaimer
Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vantage News Nigeria or any employee thereof.
