Abuja — The British government suspended visa applications from Nigeria on Monday in a move sparked by the omicron variant of the coronavirus.
London’s travel ban on Nigeria took effect at 4 a.m. Monday, according to a statement from the UK’s Nigeria country office. UK authorities said the ban was deemed essential after 21 cases of the new variant were reported in travelers from Nigeria.
UK citizens and residents traveling from Nigeria will be allowed re-entry but must isolate in a government-managed facility, the statement said.
During a television interview on Sunday, Nigeria’s health minister Osagie Ehanire criticized the travel ban.
He noted that the move contradicted the World Health Organization’s position that countries must collaborate and not shut their borders as a result of the new variant.
“The rationale for being so hasty in putting countries on a red list is not something that is very helpful,” Ehanire said. “It’s going to disrupt commerce, family reunions,…
#africatourism #africatravel