By Mudiaga Affe
Several travellers yesterday rushed to beat today’s 4am travel restrictions imposed by the United Kingdom on Nigeria. The United Kingdom added Nigeria to the countries on its red list as a result of the discovery of COVID-19 Omicron cases.
A statement by the British High Commission noted that the ban is temporary and “follows 21 recent cases of COVID-19 variant B.1.1.529 (Omicron) linked to Nigeria.”As stated in the new protocol announced on Saturday, non-UK and non-Irish citizens who are travelling in from Nigeria will not be allowed entry into the UK.
In a television interview on Saturday, the UK Health Secretary, Sajid Javid, said, “Over the recent days, we have learned of a significant number of growing cases linked to travel with Nigeria. There are 27 cases already in England and that’s growing. Nigeria narrows second only to South Africa in terms of cases linked to Omicron.
“So, today, the government has decided to add Nigeria to the travel red list and that will be effective from 4am on Monday. This will mean that only UK residents or citizens of the UK can enter the UK from Nigeria from that point onwards, and they would have to quarantine in one of the relevant hotels.
“We have also decided to require pre-departure tests for all inward travellers that will be effective from 4am on Tuesday, and they’ll be required a maximum of 48 hours before the departure time.”
Meanwhile, the British High Commission says it will “pause making decisions” on visitor visa applications from all red list countries, including Nigeria.
The decision was announced in a statement yesterday by the commission. The UK said the decision will be in effect until the travel ban is lifted.
“To support the UK Government’s aim to protect public health from COVID-19 and associated variants of concern (VOC), UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) will pause making decisions on visitor visa applications in all red list countries, including Nigeria, until travel restrictions are lifted,” the statement reads.
“Visit visas cover travel to the UK for tourism, visiting family and friends, undertaking short-term business activities (for example, attending meetings), undertaking short-term studies (under 6 months), taking part in research or exchange programmes as an academic, medical reason (for example, receiving private medical treatment).
“If you apply for a visit visa in a red list country and you meet the UK Immigration Rules, your application will be paused. You will not receive a decision on your visit visa application whilst red list travel restrictions remain in place.
“You will not be able to request a refund of your visa fee once you have given your biometrics at a Visa Application Centre (VAC). If you already hold a valid visit visa and are intending to travel to England as a visitor from a red list country, you will not be allowed to enter.
“Separate guidance is available for travellers entering Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Use https://www.gov.uk/uk-border-control and https://www.gov.uk/guidance/red-list-of-countries-and-territories.”
The commission also said visas or entry permits from red list countries will only be issued where there are compelling and compassionate circumstances.
“There are only very limited exemptions to travel and entry requirements for critical workers and medical and compassionate cases,” the statement reads.
“If you have submitted a visit visa application and you do not wish to withdraw, we will continue to hold your application.
“If you choose to continue with your visa application, you will not receive a decision on your visit visa whilst red list travel restrictions remain in place.”
Persons interested in applying on compassionate grounds can find more information on the process here.
Travellers rush to beat deadline
Following the development, ThisNigeria learnt exclusively yesterday that several travellers have had to reschedule their flights in Nigeria and neighbouring Ghana to beat the deadline.
The head of a family of four told ThisNigeria that they paid an extra £2000 each to reschedule their flight from Tuesday to Sunday to beat the travel restrictions.
He said, “I paid £2000 each for my wife, two children and myself to avoid being quarantined at the airport when we arrive the UK. This is horrific for me, but it is the best way to beat the deadline. So many other passengers have done the same too.
“Those who will get trapped after the deadline will spend at least £3000 for the period that they would be under quarantine.”
A travel agent said he had had to buy several tickets to Ghana for his clients to beat the restriction deadline because some of their original flights were booked for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.
“I bought local tickets to Ghana for my clients and got another to the UK. They are five in number and they are already on their way to the UK as of 9pm on Sunday. The deadline is 4am, otherwise, they will have to stay in the hotel for 10 days isolation.”
ThisNigeria learnt that as of Saturday evening, British Airways was fully booked but the Business Class was still available.
Another travel agent, Usman Aliu said, “A lot of people had to pay £2000 extra to upgrade to business class. A family of three left on Sunday morning and will be in the UK already. Those who booked to arrive in the UK on Tuesday or Wednesday have had to reschedule their flights to Sunday to beat the ban deadline.
“There are also those who have had to reroute to Germany, Lufthansa, and will continue through local flight to the UK. No fewer than five people explored that avenue. To isolate in the hotel in London, a traveller will spend at least £2800 in the 10 days of isolation.
“Many are considering the option of flying to other European countries where the ban has not been announced and fly through local airline to the UK.”
Meanwhile, scientists around the world are racing to solve the confusion dogging the capabilities of the variant. No one seems to know if it can re-infect survivors or can cause severe illness in victims.
Countries like Nigeria with weak health systems may be in for the worst if nothing was done to increase the number of vaccinated persons with a three per cent vaccination rate.
The Director-General, Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Ifedayo Adetifa, the national travel advisory has been revised by the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 and now requires all inbound travellers to Nigeria to present a negative COVID-19 test result done not more than 48hrs before departure.
Omicron: Global Clinic data confirms new variant is less lethal
Meanwhile, a Nigerian Research Scientist based in Singapore, Dr Jonathan Obaje, said since the African Omicron discovery, global Clinic data has confirmed that the variant of the COVID-19 virus is less lethal than earlier variants.
Obaje, a former Vice President of Nigeria in Diaspora, Singapore, said this on Sunday in a telephone interview.
According to him, this is the second week of the “African Omicron” discovery, so far Clinic data from across the globe have confirmed that the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus is less lethal than the Delta and other earlier variants.
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Obaje said, “We must remember that the severe acute respiratory syndrome Covid virus (SARS-COV) of 2002 was eventually weakened to common flu by our innate immunities.
“The human immunity system is the most powerful and most sophisticated defence system that has sustained humanity for ages. Advances in science and technology are great, but they have their limitations.
“We now have enough scientific capabilities to confirm in one more week, whether or not Omicron variant is less lethal than Delta variant. So far, many reports from across the globe indicate so.
“In event that Omicron is confirmed less lethal, scientifical expedient action thereafter will be for everyone to open gates, for Omicron to quickly spread and become dominant globally. Omicron will then become the new harmless COVID-19 virus.
“Such will be the best way to save humanity from further COVID-19 calamity; current negative media hype, panic, and political measures are unscientific, we are most likely going to have “Merry Christmas with the African Omicron.”
