The United Kingdom removed Nigeria and other 11 African countries on their red list. This was after the Federal government of Nigeria threatened to include countries such as the UK, Canada, Saudi Arabia and Argentina, on her own red list.

Nigeria, out of  UK red list.

Countries including Nigeria, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Angola, Mozambique, Lesotho, Malawi, Zambia, Eswatini, and Zimbabwe, were removed from the list as early as 4am this morning 15th of December 2021.

Sajid Javid, who happens to be the UK Health Secretary, who spoke at the UK parliament yesterday, said that, “the Omicron variant has spread so widely across the world,” adding that the travel red list was now “less effective”.

“Now that there is community transmission of Omicron in the UK and Omicron has spread so widely across the world, the travel red list is now less effective in slowing the incursion of Omicron from abroad.

Whilst we will maintain our temporary testing measures for international travel, we will be removing all 11 countries from the travel red list, effective from 4 am tomorrow (today),” he told parliament.

It is compulsory, all Uk arrivals from red list countries must be ready to pay for and self-isolate in a pre-booked, government hotel for 10 days. It is also mandatory they take COVID-19 tests within the next 48 hours of setting off the UK and PCR tests within two days of their arrival.

It was also reported, that some arrivals already paid thousands of pounds to secure government-approved quarantine hotels. There have been complaints of tumultuous organization and unpalatable food during their stay.

Mr. Sajid Javid, “said he had asked for urgent advice on whether those currently in managed quarantine would be able to leave early”.

In other news, the UAE authorities that directed airlines not to fly any passenger with Nigeria’s international passport into its airport, as at yesterday relinquished six slots to Air Peace, both at the Dubai and Sharjah airports.