The United Kingdom has pledged to simplify COVID-19 travel rules for Nigerians and other international visitors after travellers give frustrating tales.
British High Commission in Nigeria said from October 4, 2021, travellers will encounter some ease in their travel experiences.
In a statement, UK High Commissioner in Nigeria, Catriona Laing said: “From October 4, 2021, the current system will be simplified. There will be a single red list of countries and territories where stricter rules apply, and there will also be a “rest of the world” list, with simplified travel measures.”
Liang made it known that the “rest of the world” list will include countries currently on the amber list of the UK, like Nigeria.
Few Nigerians had talked about the ‘frustrating’ COVID-19 rules when leaving Nigeria for the United Kingdom, with a lot complaining that the vaccines shots they received in Nigeria were not recognised.
However, the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Faisal Shuaib, has revealed that Nigerian officials “are in talks with the UK government’ over the issues.
Shuaib said all the vaccines given in Nigeria were recognised by the UK and disclosed that the UK had three categorizations for vaccination by countries – green, amber and red – and Nigeria happens to be on the amber list.
Also, Liang noted that reports saying that the COVID-19 vaccines given in Nigeria are not approved by the UK are false.
The United Kingdom High Commissioner in Nigeria said the UK recognises the Oxford-AstraZeneca, Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson’s and Johnson’s vaccines administered in Nigeria, regardless of where they are manufactured.
She said the government of the UK is making effort to open up international travel while using its COVID-19 vaccination certification process to enable those who want to enter the UK to enter safely.
She said: “We know this matters hugely to many people in the UK and Nigeria – the extensive people-people ties between our two countries are at the heart of our bilateral relationship.
“The UK strongly supports the work of the Nigerian health authorities and Nigeria’s vaccination campaign, and strongly encourages all eligible residents in Nigeria to get vaccinated. Only once we are all vaccinated we can end the spread of COVID-19.”
