Beverly Naya, the Nigerian actress, and Ycee, the rapper, have faulted the travel ban on African countries amid concerns over the Omicron COVID-19 variant.
Omicron — labelled a “variant of concern” — was detected by South African authorities and reported to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
This had prompted several countries in the developed world to impose a travel ban on South Africa and its neighboring countries.
The Canadian government had earlier banned travellers from Nigeria and nine other African countries while the UK government also placed Nigeria on its red list nations and suspended processing of visitor visa applications from the country.
The development has continued to elicit reactions, with many Nigerians kicking against how African countries are being treated by developed nations.
In a Twitter post, Ycee described the ban as “disgusting” while accusing the developed countries of attempting to label the new COVID-19 variant as “an African thing.”
“Honestly wish African countries would put up their own red lists too because this blatant effort to label this new variant as an African thing is just disgusting,” he wrote.
Honestly wish African countries would put up their own red lists too cos this blatant effort to label this new variant as an African thing is just disgusting
— ZAHEER! (@iam_YCee) December 4, 2021
On her part, Naya wondered why developed nations should impose strict measures against African countries when they have fewer cases of the COVID-19 variant.
“The UK has had around 50,000 cases for three consecutive days, Africa is not your problem and you definitely know this. The racism is disgusting!” she wrote.
The audacity! The UK has had around 50,000 cases for three consecutive days, Africa is not your problem and you definitely know this. The racism is disgusting! https://t.co/p3MKHyQuSF
— Beverly Naya (@BeverlyNaya) December 4, 2021
The film star said it breaks her heart to see the continent being treated in such a manner despite its enormous potentials.
“Breaks my heart every time I hear Africans talking about how much our continent needs the western world when it is actually the other way round,” she added.
Breaks my heart every time I hear Africans talking about how much our continent needs the western world when it is actually the other way round. The media has seriously done a number on a lot of African minds.
Do your research, I beg you! The world is nothing without Africa.
Advertisement— Beverly Naya (@BeverlyNaya) December 5, 2021
“The media has seriously done a number on a lot of African minds. Do your research, I beg you! The world is nothing without Africa.
“African nations need to form an alliance and ban all of these countries. To hell with the narrative they’ve pushed for centuries, this continent has everything they need.
“Africa’s biggest problem is poor leadership which is the sole reason why the above may never happen.”
African nations need to form an alliance and ban all of these countries. To hell with the narrative they’ve pushed for centuries, this continent has EVERYTHING they need.
Africa’s biggest problem is poor leadership which is the sole reason why the above may never happen.
— Beverly Naya (@BeverlyNaya) December 5, 2021
The African Union (AU) had earlier condemned the travel restrictions, describing it as an injustice against the continent.
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