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Omicron: FG ‘Bans UK,Canada, Saudi Arabia Citizens From Entering Nigeria’
The federal government has banned citizens of Canada, UK, Saudi Arabia and Argentina from entering the country in retaliation to the travel restriction placed on Nigeria and other African countries for fear of the Omicron variant.
Aviation minister Hadi Sirika, a senior member of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, disclosed during a meeting with northern Muslims on Saturday, saying that they had reached an agreement to place a ban on those countries in retaliation.
“We recommend that those countries, Canada, UK, Saudi Arabia and Argentina, be also put on red list. Just like they did to us,” Mr Sirika said in an audio of the meeting obtained by Peoples Gazette. “And if they don’t allow our citizens to go into their country, who are they coming with airlines to pick out of our country? They might as well stop coming.”
Mr Sirika added that: “I am very sure in the next three days, between now and Monday, or perhaps Tuesday maximum, all those countries will be put on red list.
“Once they are put on red list, which means they are banned, then of course their airlines will also be banned. I am so sorry we are going through difficult moment, but we have to do it in the interest of our country.”
The UK government had last week banned Nigerians from entering the country, citing growing concerns of the recently identified COVID-19 Omicron variant.
“You cannot travel to the UK if you’ve been in a red list country in the previous 10 days unless you are a British or Irish national, have residence rights in the UK,” the British government’s website said.
“Children arriving in England from a red list country should not be travelling alone unless they are students in boarding school, higher education or further education,” the website added.
Also, Saudi Arabia, in a circular issued by the General Authority of Civil Aviation on December 8, banned non-citizens that have visited Nigeria in the past 14 days from entering the country.
Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, while faulting the travel ban imposed on African countries, said it was stigmatisation against the continent.
The Nigeria Governors’ Forum also faulted the travel ban by Canada and UK, describing it as “precipitate, unfair and discriminatory.”
The forum said “there is also no evidence that harsh, blanket travel bans will protect the countries that impose them,” describing the ban as ironical when the WHO advised that “rational proportional risk reduction measures” be taken by countries.
Controversial Nigerian musician, Portable, has confronted famous Nollywood actor, Odunlade Adekola, following his viral video with actress Ashabi Simple.
Recall that Portable’s fourth baby mama, Ashabi, was captured in a viral video hugging Odunlade while he playfully asked if she had taken permission from Portable about the hug.
In the trending clip shared by the actor on Instagram, he jokingly said, “Please, for God’s sake, hope you have taken permission from Portable before hugging me? Please go and inform him, 0oo.”
Responding to the video, Portable, who feels offended by the actor’s comment, took to his direct messages to question the motive behind the statement.
Portable wrote in Pidgin: “Wetin you talk inside that video with Ashabi Simple? Please, I respect my home and I no dey use am do movie. Why you go talk say she tell me before coming? Shey una no dey collect money for her hand ni?”
“But why everybody dey talk say I get wahala? Make una dey talk good about me. Me self, I dey loyal, o. Loyalty pass juju.”
Grammy-winning artiste Burna Boy has seemingly issued a cautionary message to Speed Darlington following his recent release from prison.
Darlington was arrested on November 27 while performing at a show in Owerri, Imo state. He was accused of cyberstalking Burna Boy, the Grammy-winning artiste.
Darlington had taunted Burna Boy over his affiliation with the embattled US rapper Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ who is facing multiple charges for sexual exploitation and human trafficking.
He asked Burna Boy to explain how he won the Grammy award for his album ‘Twice As Tall’ — a project executive produced by Diddy. He claimed there was a sexual relationship between the duo.
After two months in the Kuje prison, Darlington was released on Tuesday.
In a now-deleted post via his Instagram story, Burna Boy warned that there would be no leniency if such a situation arose.
“If you like misbehave again, you will go back to where you come from! And this time around, there will be no mercy! Don’t mess with ODG,” he wrote, although he did not mention names.
The police in Abuja first detained Darlington in October 2024 after a formal complaint filed by Burna Boy.
He was, however, released on bail after five days in police detention.
The wife of former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Mrs. Beatrice Ekweremadu, has returned to Nigeria after being released from a UK prison.
Mrs Ekweremadu reportedly arrived in Nigeria on Tuesday.
It will be recalled that Senator Ike Ekweremadu, his wife Beatrice, and a medical doctor, Dr. Obinna Obeta, were convicted in the United Kingdom for their involvement in a controversial organ harvesting case.
The UK court sentenced Senator Ekweremadu to 10 years in prison, while Mrs. Ekweremadu received a six-year sentence.
Recall that Senator Ekweremadu, the wife and one Dr Obinna Obeta were sentenced to prison by a UK court for their involvement in organ harvesting.
The UK court sentenced Senator Ekweremadu to 10 years in prison, while Mrs. Ekweremadu received a six-year sentence.
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