Impose Travel Ban On Non-African Countries With Omicron, AfDB President Tells UN, WHO

The President, African Development Bank Group Akinwumi Adesina has called the ban placed on African countries over the outbreak of the Omicron variant of the Covid-19 pandemic as ‘discriminatory’.

Adesina made the statement as part of the reactions following the recent series of ban imposed on countries in the continent.

The Omicron variant was first confirmed in South Africa on November 4, leading to travel restriction on  Botswana, Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

Early evidence of Omicron suggests the virus has a higher re-infection risk.

African leaders are already hitting back against travel bans imposed on African countries as they are accusing rich countries of hypocrisy.

Adesina said, “Global vaccines’ and travel apartheid against Africa are endangering lives, hurting economies, lives, jobs and livelihoods, from a pandemic Africa did not cause. End the apartheid. Respect Africa! @WHO, @antonioguterres.

“Now that omicron has been found in many non-African and developed countries, why are travels from those countries not banned? Why single out African countries? Singling out African countries is very unfair, non-scientific and discriminatory. Lift bans on African countries! @WHO.”

Nigeria is the latest victim as the UK on Sunday banned all flight activities between both countries.

The UK said its decision was because of the discovery of COVID Omicron cases in England linked to recent travellers from Nigeria.

Nigeria’s first case was confirmed by the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)on 1 December, 2021.

As of Monday, the Omicron variant of the coronavirus has spread to about one-third of U.S.

In Europe, UK has 246 cases, 18 in Denmark,  two in Germany, and one each in Belgium and Czech Republic.