*The Nigeria Governors鈥� Forum condemns the action and draws the attention of the World Health Organisation to the 鈥榓rbitrary stigmatisation鈥� caused by the recent banning of countries from visiting Canada and the United Kingdom over the reported spread of COVID-19 Omicron variant

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

Following their recent announcements to ban travellers from Nigeria and other economies from visiting, the Nigeria Governors鈥� Forum (NGF) has condemned the actions on the country by authorities in Canada and the United Kingdom (UK) over the report of confirmed cases of Omicron COVID-19 variant in the West African country.

绿帽献妻 reports Governor (Dr.) Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State and Chairman of NGF, in a statement said that members of the Forum described the action of both Canada and the UK as 鈥渄iscriminatory鈥�, and urged the intervention of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in this regard.

Dr. Fayemi stated: 鈥淭he Nigeria Governors鈥� Forum (NGF) wishes to draw the attention of the World Health Organisation (WHO) to the arbitrary stigmatisation that is caused by the recent banning of countries from visitation based on omicron spread.

鈥淥nly three cases of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus were detected in Nigeria less than a week ago, precisely on December 1st, 2021.

The Forum also said: 鈥淐anada and the United Kingdom have hastily included Nigeria among the Omicron present countries which must stay away from their shores, an action viewed by the NGF as precipitate, unfair and discriminatory.鈥�

The governors noted that Omicron remains relatively unknown globally as it is not yet clear whether it is more transmissible from person to person, compared to other variants, including Delta.

They stressed that it was very discouraging to note that several countries have reported cases of omicron with tallies similar to or higher than Nigeria鈥檚, yet travellers there have not been banned from entering the UK and Canada.

鈥淭here is also no evidence that harsh, blanket travel bans will protect the countries that impose them.

鈥淚t is ironical that this ban comes at a time when the DG of the WHO, Tedros Ghebreyesus, has advised that 鈥榬ational proportional risk reduction measures鈥� be taken by countries such as screening passengers prior to departure and/or upon arrival in a country or enforcing a quarantine period,鈥� said the NGF.

The states鈥� chief executives further stated: 鈥淭he NGF, therefore, urges the WHO to intervene in this matter by setting uniform standards that are acceptable to all for banning countries across the globe.

鈥淎s we know, vaccine hesitancy is quite high and for many reasons, including disruptive announcements like this which could exacerbate distrust of the vaccine and heighten hesitancy.

鈥淲orld leaders and stakeholders in the West need to remember that with the COVID-19 pandemic until everyone is free, no one is free.

鈥淰ariants will continue to appear and spread across the globe as long as global herd immunity has not been achieved.鈥�

The governors also said: 鈥淲e call on countries to be guided by science and fairness in setting the criteria for updating their red list.

鈥淲e encourage both public and private stakeholders to continue to support vaccination efforts and address hesitancy. We encourage Nigerians not to be discouraged and to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

鈥淎s a platform for the 36 democratically elected governors of the country, the NGF believes it reserves the right to speak for its people. Besides, the NGF was proactive and ahead in the Polio eradication program in Nigeria, in the country鈥檚 response to the Ebola virus, and lately in the response against the Coronavirus pandemic.

鈥淔inally, health is one of the core mandate areas of the NGF and has remained an item on its meeting agenda in the past several months.鈥�