Omicron: Beyond the discriminatory travel ban

The bans being slammed on Nigeria by a few countries are just a case of one finger bringing oil that soils the rest. It is a situation of the majority suffering because of the misdeeds of a few. As of  October 31, CBC reports that the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) noted that border […]

The bans being slammed on Nigeria by a few countries are just a case of one finger bringing oil that soils the rest. It is a situation of the majority suffering because of the misdeeds of a few.

As of  October 31, CBC reports that the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) noted that border officials had identified 374 cases of suspected falsified COVID-19 test results at points of entry, mostly through airports and land crossings. In the U.S, the unfortunate incidence dates back to last July and the story is not different from the experience in the UK, France and many European countries, where reports have fingered incidence of negative COVID-19 test results being forged, alongside falsified proof of vaccination. Humans are humans and the bad eggs are not about colour or geography, they are just bad!

So, like their bad peers in the Americas, Europe and Asia, a handful of Africans resort to the procurement of “negative” COVID-19 tests and “genuine” vaccination cards without being vaccinated. Sadly, everyone has become a journalist through social media. As purported reports of such practices went viral in an uttermost display of freedom of expression, even without proof, some Twitter users even tagged the Canadian authorities and practically encouraged the diplomatic offices of Western countries to disregard proofs of vaccination and COVID-19 test results from Nigeria.

Perhaps the perpetrators and their news mongers are not students of literature, thus have assumed that all “animals are equal”. In an unapologetic manner, the Canadian authority responded and with the legitimate claim of seeking to protect its citizens, nullified COVID-19 tests done in Nigeria and went further to include Nigeria, alongside South Africa and Egypt amongst other African countries, as “red” countries, imposing restrictions on travellers from Nigeria and its peers. Consequently, some students, permanent resident holders, amongst others are either stranded or have to go through horrific experiences of going through third countries to get COVID-19 test.

The stance of the Canadian government seems discriminatory against us, Africans, as the President of African Development Bank, Dr. Akinwunmi  Adesina puts it: “Why single out African countries, singling out African countries is very unfair, non-scientific and discriminatory. Global vaccines and travel apartheid against Africa are endangering lives, hurting economies, lives, jobs and livelihoods from a pandemic Africa did not cause.”

As obviously discriminatory as it is, there are far-reaching underlying issues of diplomatic trust, social integrity, policy sloppiness and people disorientation, which we must address, else we would continue to be treated “unfairly”. Today, it’s Canada, tomorrow it may be the U.K. While it is Omicron today, tomorrow, it may be another phenomenon.

First, senior government officials admitted incidence of falsified COVID-19 negative results but with nothing to show of prosecuting the perpetrators, an act which would have shown the world that a few bad eggs cannot define who we are as Nigerians and of course as Africans, especially as this is the line of difference between the experience in other climes where governments strictly prosecute perpetrators.

Besides, what has been the engagement strategy of Nigerian authorities in responding to the diplomatic policies discriminating against our system and allowing a handful of bad eggs to globally define us and ridicule the integrity of our systems, when Nigeria perhaps has thus far better managed the pandemic, compared to many of the developed countries issuing restrictions. Omicron has spread to over 45 countries and the index cases are not from Nigeria or any of the peer red countries. So, diplomatic officers in Nigeria and other African countries need to roll their sleeves and get to work in effectively engaging their partners across countries taking undue punitive measures on Nigeria. 

It is not about taking a defensive or confrontational stance; it is about putting the facts on the table and providing evidence for upholding the integrity of our systems, notwithstanding the few bad eggs. If this is not happening now and happening fast, is it a case of inferiority complex, ignorance, or sloppiness?

Incidentally, the undue travel restrictions are happening at a time when many Nigerians in the diaspora may be planning to visit their fatherland to celebrate the yuletide season, especially as COVID-19 robbed many Nigerians abroad of such festive visits last year. With the U.K also suspending visa processing and restricting entry of Nigerians with valid visas, there are social and economic consequences, which the government needs to consider in addressing this diplomatic discrimination against Nigeria and many African peers, as many put it.

However, as we take diplomatic measures to address the “crisis”, we need to be firm in our prosecution of offenders, not just for COVID-19 test results and vaccination cards but on all matters. We are a vulnerable society, and we should all rise against the few bad eggs who are unduly misrepresenting us. All hands must be on deck to correct this vice and we all need to support the police, judiciary, and other relevant authorities in taming the monsters.

We cannot continue to be held to ransom by a few “idiots”, whose atrocities are being used as a benchmark for assessing Nigerians across the world. How else do you expect America, Britain, or China to treat us when the only news they read is about the atrocities being committed by a few idiots. Incidentally, social media continues to amplify the vices of these cohorts of people, with criminal tendencies, either for fun or political reasons. Incidentally, as they fan the evils, many a time resorting to unsubstantiated claims and fake news, they are absolutely destroying the image of Nigeria and breeding issues for Nigerians.

Let all hands be on deck. This is not just about the government; this is a societal phenomenon and we must all play a role in redefining who we truly are, by effectively representing Nigerians.

Every society has bad eggs. So, whilst we are not proud of the bad eggs and we must do everything possible to condemn them, we must not allow these bad eggs to dominate our representation. The narratives must change if we must earn the deserving respect in Africa and indeed, globally.