Placing Nigeria on COVID-19 red list is attack on diplomatic relations, Senate tells UK

Nigeria Senate on Tuesday has expressed discontent over the United Kingdom’s action for placing Nigeria on COVID-19 red list as a result of Omicron, a variant of COVID-19 A noticed in the country.

Raising a motion through order 42, Senator Ike Ekweremadu expressed satisfaction the efforts of the Government of Nigeria in the containment and treatment of COVID-19 cases.

He said Nigeria is among the countries
with the lowest cases of COVID-19 and further concern that the decision of UK to ban travelers was unfair in all intents.

He said: “Worried that the decision by the British Government to include Nigeria in their COIVD-19 list, with its concomitant implications, will affect many citizens of Nigeria, who had planned to spend their Christmas and New Year holiday with their families.

“Also Worried that Nigerians with genuine needs to visit the U.K within this period will be denied VISA and those with Visa will not be allowed to enter the U.K.

“Notes that Nigerians have consistently complied with all the COVID-19 protocols required by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and U.K Government for travellers prior to this ban.

“Worried that targeting African countries, especially in the COVID-19 travel ban, amounts to profiling and discrimination as well as an attack on our cordial diplomatic relationship with the U.K.

“Aware of the global concerns over vaccines hoarding and inequity and the resulting consequences on low-income nations in the fight against COVID-19.”

The Senate adopted his prayers condemning the U.K Government’s inclusion of Nigeria in their COVID-19 red list without justification.

They also call on the Federal Government to constructively engage the British authorities with a view to reverse this inclusion, adding that, the British authorities should consider removing Nigeria from the COVID-19 red list and to be sensitive to the diplomatic relationship between the two countries in taking decisions that affect Nigerian citizens.