National Association of Nigerian Students(NANS) has given a 72-hour ultimatum to the British Government to reverse the travel ban placed on Nigerians over the new Omicron variant.

The students' body issued the ultimatum during its protest at British Deputy High Commission in Lagos on Tuesday.

“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", NANS threatened.

The British Government had placed Nigeria and other selected African countries on the red list and subsequently halted their Visa applications and processing, due to the new Omicron strain.

The new variant has since been found in 38 countries including France, Germany, Netherlands, South Africa, Portugal, Australia and others.

Chairman, NANS, Ogun State Chapter, Kehinde Damilola told NAN correspondent at the protest ground that the "Association was displeased with the decision of the British government to place a ban on travels from Nigeria."

He said the decision is pure racism and an attempt to intimidate African countries in general and Nigeria in particular. 

“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.

NANS South-West Co-ordinator, Adegboye Olatunji, said COVID-19 was neither an African virus nor its variant, Omicron. He said it is worrisome that Nigeria and Nigerians must be made to suffer the consequences of a global pandemic. 

“Placing a ban on only African members of the Commonwealth is not right. We should be thinking of solutions on how to eradicate the virus and vaccinate Africans instead of coming up with red lists. We have thousands of students studying in the U.K. who have plans of returning to Nigeria for festive season but their plans have been cut short.

“We are not here to fight anyone, neither are we here to wreck havoc,” Olatunji said.

A British Mission official who spoke to NAN in confidence said audiovisual recording of the protest had been forwarded to appropriate authorities.

“We will be relating happenings to the Deputy Head of Mission who will in turn make calls to London. That is where we are going to take it from because we can’t make instant decisions,” he said.

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