Following the discovery of 21 cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in England, which have been linked to Nigerian travel, the United Kingdom has announced a temporary measure to prevent the further spread of the virus from entering the country beginning at 4 a.m. Monday, December 6.
According to Health Secretary Sajid Javid, the UK will add Nigeria to the red list of countries from which people arriving must quarantine in a hotel for 10 days under the new measure, which will be reviewed in three weeks, in an effort to limit the spread of the Omicron strain of COVID-19.
This means that beginning at 4 a.m. on Monday, the UK and Irish citizens and residents arriving from Nigeria must isolate in a government-approved managed quarantine facility for 10 days and receive two negative PCR tests, as additional precautionary measures against the Omicron variant are taken.
As a result, all non-UK and non-Irish citizens and residents who have been in Nigeria in the last 10 days will face a temporary travel ban, meaning they will be denied entry into the UK.
This does not apply to those who stayed on the ground and only transited through Nigeria to change flights Canada banned travelers from Egypt, Nigeria, and Malawi on Tuesday, citing concerns about the spread of the new Omicron variant.
Meanwhile, the federal government has stepped up talks with Afrexim Bank in order to accelerate local production of the COVID 19 vaccine within the next year, according to Health Minister Dr. Osagie Ehanire.
Prof. Oyewale Tomori, a renowned virologist and Chairman of the Board of Bio-Vaccine Nigerian Limited, said that despite ongoing efforts to expedite the process, local production of the COVID-19 vaccine in the country may not be possible within the next year.
Catriona Laing, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, commented on the UK’s decision, saying, “I know that this decision will have a significant impact on people in both our countries, particularly at this time of year.”
This decision is a precautionary measure to protect public health in the United Kingdom while we investigate this new variant.
“We continue to work closely with Nigerian authorities to combat the pandemic and applaud their efforts.”
In an effort to limit the spread of the virus, UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid also stated that visitors to the UK would now be required to take a COVID-19 test before their departure.
He stated that the new requirements would go into effect on Tuesday.
To enter the UK, travelers would have to show proof of a negative lateral flow or PCR test, he said.
Javid confirmed that Nigeria would be added to the red list of countries from which visitors to the UK must spend 10 days quarantined in a hotel.
According to reports, travelers currently only need to self isolate until they test negative within two days of arriving in the UK.
Since the discovery of the Omnicron variant, the government’s strategy has been to “buy time” to assess and “put in place protective measures,” according to Javid, adding that “we’ve always said that we would act swiftly should new data require it.”
“In recent days, we have learned of a significant number of growing cases linked to travel with Nigeria,” he said.
There are currently 27 cases in England, with more on the way, and Nigeria is now second only to South Africa in terms of Omicron-related cases.
“As of today, the government has decided to add Nigeria to the travel blacklist, which will take effect at 4 a.m. on Monday.”
From that point forward, only UK residents or citizens of the UK will be able to enter the UK from Nigeria, and they will be required to quarantine in one of the relevant hotels.
“We’ve also decided to require pre-departure tests for all inbound travelers beginning at 4 a.m. on Tuesday, with a maximum of 48 hours before the departure time,” he explained.
According to the UK, the new protocol does not apply to people who are “staying airside and only transiting through.”
Javid added that the government has “been clear that we will take action if necessary,” emphasizing that vaccinations “are our first line of defense” and urging people to get a booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine when directed to do so by the NHS.
The moves come after the government has come under increasing pressure to tighten the policy over the course of the week.
According to leaked minutes of a meeting seen by the BBC, the government’s scientific advisory body Sage said last week that pre-departure tests for those arriving in the UK would be beneficial.
The Labour Party has previously criticized the government’s current testing policy and advocated for the reinstatement of pre-departure tests.
While Labour has advocated for pre-departure testing to prevent the spread of Omicron, travel companies will see it as a significant setback – just as green shoots of recovery were emerging.
Airlines have backed the reintroduction and expansion of the red list. However, they believe that imposing blanket restrictions is both unnecessary and ineffective.
The FG and Afrexim Bank are stepping up discussions on local COVID 19 vaccine production.
Meanwhile, the federal government has intensified talks with Afrexim Bank in order to accelerate local production of the COVID 19 vaccine within the next year, according to Health Minister Ehanire.
Ehanire revealed over the weekend that the federal government had been meeting with top Afrexim Bank officials to secure financial support to expedite the process of reviving vaccine production in Nigeria.
Meeting the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommendations is part of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control’s (NAFDAC) readiness for local vaccine production).
Prof. Mojishola Adeyeye, Director General of NAFDAC, stated that the country had met the WHO’s 868 requirements for vaccine production in the country.
However, Adeyeye added that WHO would still send an assessment team in a couple of months to verify things before granting Nigeria formal certification.
In his speech at the National Council of Health special session in Abuja, Ehanire stated that one of the lessons Nigeria learned from the COVID 19 pandemic was the need to develop a minimum level of self-sufficiency in medical infrastructure.
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“It has been said that COVID-19 has been an eye-opener for the country,” the minister said, referring to the difficulties Nigeria faced in procuring basic treatment tools during the outbreak of the COVID 19 pandemic, which is still ongoing in terms of vaccine procurement. It has its own set of realities to which we must all adjust.
The first is that we cannot rest on our laurels and believe we have won. There is no way we can believe nothing is going on.
We must all agree to strengthen our healthcare system and be ready to face any healthcare challenges.
“When we were looking for items like personal protective equipment, reagents, and other commodities, we realized that when it comes down to it, most of these countries would prefer to take care of themselves before considering even their friends, and thus we realized that we need some level of self-sufficiency.”
According to Ehanire, the federal government is pleased that the country is responding to the challenge in many ways and that industries have sprung up to produce personal protective equipment and hand sanitizers.
“Our research institutes have developed equipment and materials.”
So we’re on the right track, and our research institutes have developed equipment and materials.
They’ve also been able to perform sequencing and reagents, and they’re on their way to developing vaccines.”
He stated that his ministry is collaborating with the NCDC, Nigeria Medical Research, and the Centre for Excellence in Ede, Osun State, in order to get the most out of them.
Ehanire stated that the government was determined to produce vaccines locally.
“We are working with Bio Vaccine Nigerian Limited, and I met with the Managing Director of the firm today and urged him to expedite all processes so that we can take advantage of the opportunities and support we have from outside this country to improve vaccine manufacturing.”
“I also had a meeting with the President of Afriexim Bank yesterday to discuss a few issues.” Part of it is mopping up support in the area of vaccine production, and we will be able to announce when the details are clear.”
Ehanire stated that the vaccine production is not only for COVID-19 but also for vaccines against other diseases and that the country wants to be prepared to deal with future health emergencies as they arise. The minister stated that one of the issues the government is attempting to address is the erroneous perception held by foreign partners that Nigeria does not have anything on the ground.
“Yes, there is a veterinary vaccine plant in Jos,” he added.
Nigeria, he claims, once had a human vaccine factory that was shut down for maintenance.
The minister stated that the government was working to reactivate the vaccine manufacturing facility.
He stated that the venture will necessitate technical expertise as well as funding.
However, Tomori, a former President of the Nigeria Academy of Science, said over the weekend that the country may not be ready to produce the vaccine within a year.
Tomori stated that Bio Vaccine Company is already taking steps to expedite the process, but that getting the structures and equipment ready for the start of local vaccine production would most likely take longer than the one-year target.
“Bio vaccine is already accelerating steps toward producing vaccines locally.” Even if the buildings and structures are completed today, it will take more than a year to begin vaccine production. “And the buildings aren’t finished yet,” he explained.
