Friday, March 29, 2024
Home Health Omicron: UK Red Listing Nigeria Is Unjust, Discriminatory – Lai Mohammed

Omicron: UK Red Listing Nigeria Is Unjust, Discriminatory – Lai Mohammed

 

 

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has condemned the red listing of Nigeria by the UK government over the two cases of the omicron variant of COVID-19.

 

Speaking at a news conference in Abuja, Mr Mohammed described the decision as unjust and discriminatory.

 

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

Also discussed at the summit is the way forward as regards an upscale of the current responses to the pandemic including ongoing mass vaccination, surveillance and screening at the various points of entry.

 

Lai Mohammed’s comments are the latest reactions 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 United Kingdom government’s placement of Nigeria on its red list following the detection of the COVID-19 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.”

 

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.

RELATED ARTICLES

Gombe state Government says it’s working with UNICEF to eradicate malnutrition

Gombe state Government says it’s working with development partners such as UNICEF and other partners to eradicate malnutrition in the state. The state’s deputy governor,...

Rotary Inter’l Donates $14m To Nigeria For Polio Eradication

Rotary International has approved a total of $ 14,037,787 grant to support polio eradication in Nigeria through the World Health Organisation (WHO) Nigeria office. Chairman,...

Strike: NMA gives FG ultimatum to meet demands on salary review

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has given the federal government till Jan 31, 2024 to implement the upward review of the Consolidated Medical Salary...

Most Popular

Nigerian Army Frees 230 Detainees Cleared Of Ties With Boko Haram

The military has released 230 suspected Boko Haram terrorists made up of two hundred and nineteen males and eleven females after profiling them. A source...

Gombe state Targets Over 214,000 Less Privileged, Vulnerable Persons For Food Palliative Distribution

Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has flagged-off another round of distribution of food palliative to less privileged and vulnerable persons across the 114...

301 Artillery Regiment Nigerian Army to conduct annual range classification

The 301 Artillery Regiment (General Support), Gombe will conduct its first schedule Range Classification Exercise 2024. According to a statement by captain MO ATTAH, Assistant...

Gombe state Government says it’s working with UNICEF to eradicate malnutrition

Gombe state Government says it’s working with development partners such as UNICEF and other partners to eradicate malnutrition in the state. The state’s deputy governor,...

Recent Comments