The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has condemned the red listing of Nigeria by the United Kingdom 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 who admitted that it is the duty of the Presidential Steering Committee to respond to the action by the British government and others, however, called on the UK government to rescind their decision immediately.
“Let me say straight away that it’s up to the Presidential Steering Committee to respond to this action by the British government and others…’’
“However, as the Spokesman for the Federal Government, I can say, without mincing words, that the decision by the British government to put Nigeria on the red list, just because of less than two dozen cases of Omicron which, by the way, did not originate in Nigeria, is unjust, unfair, punitive, indefensible and discriminatory,’’ he opined.
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.
