Following the United Kingdom ban on travelers from Nigeria, The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has given the British High Commission in Nigeria a 72-hour ultimatum to revoke its decision regarding the non-issuance of visas to Nigerians over the COVID-19 Omicron variant.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the student association gave the ultimatum during its protest at the British Deputy High Commission in Lagos; on Tuesday over the travel and visa ban placed on Nigerians over the Omnicron variant by the British government.
“If there is an absence of solutions in the next 72 hours, NANS will have no other choice but to shut down the activities of British and Canadian missions across Nigeria,” The student body said at the protest.
A state chairman of the association, Ogun Chapter, Kehinde Damilola, told the news agency during the protest that the association was not happy with the decision of the British government to place a ban on travellers from Nigeria.
The British are out to Intimidate Africans
“The decision is pure racism and an attempt to intimidate African countries, particularly Nigeria,” he claimed.
“We have come to say ‘enough is enough’ with the treatment Nigeria constantly receives from Europe. The narrative has to change because Nigerians are not a symbol of havoc or hazard.
“This decision will affect not only visitors but also our international students who are studying in the U.K.
“The omicron variant did not emanate from Nigeria, neither do we have up to a dozen cases, so why should we be punished for it even over other European countries?” he said.
Also, Student body South-West Coordinator, Adegboye Olatunji, said; that COVID-19 was not an African virus, neither was the new variant, Omicron.
“Placing a ban on only African members of the Commonwealth is not right.”
Following the discovery of the new Omicron COVID-19 variant, the British government has put Nigeria and other selected African countries on the red list, leading to protest by the Nigerian people.
