Nigerian virologist says banning flights from Africa over the Omicron Variant is not racist; others differ

Travel restrictions imposed on southern African countries and the African continent by world leaders, in a bid to curb the spread of the new Covid 19 variant Omicron, which has been designated by the world health organization as a ‘variant of concern’ because of its concerning number of mutations has garnered mixed reactions.

Several African countries have accused the West of double standards and blamed it for restricting access to vaccines.

On Sunday, South African president, Cyril Ramaphosa, condemned the travel bans enacted against his country and its neighbours over the new variant, describing it as unjustified, and called for the ban to be lifted immediately.

The Nigerian government also expressed solidarity with South Africa and condemns the bans warning Western nations against discrimination against African countries.

Nigeria said it would go ahead with a planned visit by Ramaphosa to the West African nation today.

Similarly, the World Health Organisation said it stands with African countries, which had the courage to boldly share life-saving public health information and help to protect the world against the spread of COVID19.

Over the weekend, Akinwumi Adesina, president of the African Development Bank, in a series of tweets, advised world leaders not to label or penalise African nations because of the new variant.

A video of Dr Ayoade Alakija, the co-chair, of the African Union’s Covid-19 Africa Vaccine Delivery Alliance, discrediting the travel ban has gone viral. In the video clip, courtesy of the BBC, the doctor said that the Omicron Variant was inevitable because the world has failed to vaccinate countries equitably.

Prof. Olawale Tomori, a foremost Nigerian virologist and former Vice-Chancellor of Redeemer’s University in Ede, Osun State said banning flights from Africa over the Omicron Variant is not racist.

He bore his thoughts on the nature of the new variant as well as the travel restrictions imposed on southern African countries while featuring as a guest on Arise television breakfast magazine programme- The Morning Show.