The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) continued its war against roadside trading by evicting two illegal markets at the Federal Housing Junction and a popular car wash bus stop in Lugbe.
These markets are said to contribute to Lugbe’s chronic traffic bottleneck, especially during peak hours.
Comrade Ikharo Attah, Chairman of the FCT Ministerial Committee on City Sanitation, remarked that the resumption of the fight was a demonstration of commitment to holistic sanitation along the Airport Expressway, which is one of the nation’s most important gateways to the capital.
He went on to say that the city’s entry, as well as other parts of the city, will not be left to obstinate traders, artists, and their ilk intent on defacing every available place to satisfy their selfish desires.
According to Attah, the taskforce of the committee has been briefed to begin arresting criminals for prosecution after warning traders and other violators to stop reclaiming illegal markets and other economic activities in unapproved sites.
Aside from the health hazards posed by some of the markets, which are located directly beneath high-tension power towers, he stated that the environmental annoyances generated by the sellers’ activities cannot be tolerated.
He emphasized the FCT Minister’s commitment to continuing with ongoing sanitation, both within and outside of the city core.
He said : ” It is very painful that these traders have returned here, after we have dislodged them and cleaned up this place. We shall continue with the exercise, and henceforth anyone caught violating the FCT urban and regional planning rules in this place would be arrested and prosecuted “, Attah added.
Meanwhile , the Secretary FCT Command and Control, Mr. Peter Olumuji hinted that the committee has equally taken into cognisance residents outcry over the constant criminal attacks at the EFCC Jabi office junction.
While adding that the red light zones for criminal elements have been identified around the Cashew plantation located at that junction, stating that security cleaning exercise have been scheduled to dislodge the criminals.
Dr. Obi Adigwe, Director General of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Success (NIPRD) has hinted that partnership is important to the development of Nigeria’s health business.
He gave this hint while replying to press inquiries at the Institute’s formal presentation of its 5-year Strategic Plan in Abuja.
The Institute’s second Strategic Plan aims to help NIPRD fulfill its purpose of becoming a center of excellence for research and development (R&D) of phytomedicines, pharmaceuticals, and biological products.
While emphasizing the importance of collaboration and partnership in the health sector, Adigwe stated that the 5-year Strategic Plan was developed with technical and financial assistance from the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners.
According to him : “In the three years, NIPRD has partnered with governments and agencies across the world, including India, USA, South Africa, UK, Russia, Cuba, Ghana and Canada. That is why we have experience tremendous growth and achieve the milestone successes we recorded in the past three years since our management came board.
”The Strategic Plan will enable us to remain focused on our key mandate to improving the health status of Nigerian through quality research and development in the area of phytomedicines and other pharmaceutical products.”
Findings by our Correspondent, however, indicated that since he became the DG of NIPRD, Adigwe, has initiated and led engagement initiatives with over 70 entities in a bid to improve government’s effectiveness in achieving multi-sectoral development objectives using systems approach.
He explained that the Strategic Plan was developed through a bottom-up approach, followed by various relevant institutional and stakeholders’ consultations and engagements.
According to him, a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) plan for the tracking, analysis, collation, storage and reporting on the implementation updates of the plan for decision making was also developed alongside relevant stakeholders.
The NIPRD Director General further disclosed that the plan which aligns with the vision of the second National Strategic Health Development Plan (NSHDP II 2021 -2025) and the Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP 2021-2025) of the Federal Government of Nigeria proposes four strategic pillars.
The four pillars, he said, include optimization of the Institute’ capacity, optimization of NIPRD’s functions, health emergency preparedness and response and; health, pharmaceutical systems strengthening.
The Federal Government through its ministry of Health has identified seven barriers hindering its mandatory goal to eliminate mother – to – child transmission of HIV (e-MTCT) and Zero new HIV infections in the country
The Assistant Director, National PMTCT Lead National AIDS and STIs Control Program (NASCP) of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Ijaodola Olugbenga made this known on Tuesday at a workshop organised by the Child Rights Information Bureau (CRIB) of the Federal Ministry of information and culture in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Calabar.
The gaps, according to Dr. Olugbenga include: Poor access to the formal public health sector; The challenge of having a comprehensive data reporting system; Ineligible improvement in Antenatal and facility delivery uptake; and low Pediatric HIV case identification as well as poor linkage to care and Treatment for children living with HIV.
He added that Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission (PMTCT) services at present reaches only about one third of pregnant women in Nigeria while many states are yet to respond to the provision of adequate funding for HIV programmatic activities including PMTCT.
Olugbenga ,however, said in a bid to close up the gaps, the government has rolled at a work plan which is targeting at least 95 per cent of all HIV positive person to receive antiretroviral therapy.
Saying, ” The National Strategic Plan (NSP), 95% of all HIV positive pregnant and breastfeeding mothers receive antiretroviral therapy.
” 95% of all HIV-exposed infants receive antiretroviral prophylaxis; 95% of all HIV-exposed infants have early infant diagnosis within 6-8 weeks of Birth.
” The WHO EMTCT Target (“yellow book”) 95% ANC Coverage 95% Testing Coverage for pregnant women 95% PMTCT Coverage”.
He,therefore, advocated for the need to develop state specific realistic approach to improve antenatal(ANC) , ANC Testing and PMTCT Coverage.
Over a hundred mothers are expected to attend Moms in Prayer International Nigeria’s 5th Anniversary Celebration on October 16, 2021 in Lagos, Nigeria.
Moms in Prayer is a prayer group that intercedes for children and schools.
Mrs Chioma Obasi, the Nigerian Country Cordinator, stated in a statement that the group’s mission is to cover every school in Nigeria and beyond with prayer.
As a result, Obasi stated that the ministry would want to see more mothers join, either physically or virtually.
She stated that this year’s anniversary will be different.
According to her, ” Moms in prayer international Nigeria, re-started 5 years ago in Lagos Nigeria with a new leadership, after being inactive for a period of time and now has spread to others states in Nigeria.
In Moms in prayer, women gather together once a week for one hour to intercede on behalf of the children and schools. Our vision is that every school in the world would be covered in prayer.
This program is a celebration of GOD’S Faithfulness to the ministry and also to promote the Ministry in Nigeria and strengthen the zeal of the members towards achieving the primary goal of the Ministry.
” We are expecting about a hundred Moms. There will be live streaming of the program too. Our expectation is that more women especially mothers will get to know about the ministry and join us in praying for children and schools.
” We are thankful that within five years Moms in prayer has really expanded and so we are gathering to Celebrate God’s faithfulness.
” Our guest speaker is Rev Oyiks Alfred and other anointed and power ministers of the gospel.”
She said mothers can visit the group website www.momsinprayer.org and also register on the link below to attend the event
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting and empowering telecoms customers against unfair business practices.
Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman, announced this at the 16th Abuja International Trade Fair, organized by the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, over the weekend in Abuja on “NCC Special Day” (ACCI).
According to Danbatta, the NCC recently unveiled a new Strategic Vision Plan (SVP), which articulates the Commission’s policies and regulatory implementation roadmaps for the next five years, covering 2020-2025, in keeping with the Commission’s consumer-centric objectives.
He said , the new roadmap, dubbed a 5-Point Agenda, has the main goal of improving consumer connectivity and service experiences, similar to how the first Strategic Vision Plan for 2015-2020 focused on consumer empowerment and protection.
According to him, “The consumer is King and this philosophy has consistently guided the Commission’s regulatory stance.
“The Commission is committed to empowering and protecting consumers from unfair practices.
“This is based on our regulatory mandate of ensuring that consumers of telecommunications services get value for their money, and that they are treated as the most important stakeholders in the scheme of things,” he said.
He listed the five consumer-centric items of the new SVP 2021-2025, to include “Organizational Renewal for Operational Efficiency and Regulatory Excellence; Facilitating the Provision of Infrastructure for a Digital Economy which fosters National Development; and Promoting Fair Competition, Inclusive Growth, Increased investment and Innovative Services.
Others include to “Improve Quality of Service (QoS) for Enhanced Consumer Quality of Experience (QoE); and Facilitating Strategic Collaboration and Partnership.
“The SVP will generally focus on the excellence and efficiency of our regulatory activities and ensure increased connectivity to telecoms consumers through deployment of robust infrastructure and the Fifth Generation (5G) network, recently approved for rollout by the Federal Government.”
Also speaking, Mr. Efosa Idehen Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau,NCC, restated the NCC’s commitment to ensuring fair competition and level-playing field for all stakeholders in the communications industry, particularly in safeguarding the interest of consumers from abuse of their rights and privilege; and against unfair practices in the telecom service value chain.
Idehen said this commitment has been demonstrated in the Commission’s continuous effort to establish seamless programmes that would Protect, Inform and Educate (PIE Mandate) telecom consumers through various consumer-centric initiatives.
Commenting on the theme of this year’s Trade Fair, which is, “Exploring the Opportunities of Africa Continental Free Trade Area(AfCFTA), he said, AfCFTA holds huge potentials for transforming the Continent as the telecom sector would certainly play a major role in driving this initiative.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has lamented governments’ inability to provide mental health treatment to individuals all around the world, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, when they were most in need.
According to the latest edition of the Mental Health Atlas, which was released on Friday and painted a dismal picture of mental health around the world, most 2020 mental health targets have been missed, and the extension of the WHO Mental Health Action Plan to 2030 provides new opportunities for progress.
Despite increased attention to mental health in recent years, quality mental services that are aligned with needs have yet to be scaled up, according to the report.
The latest edition of the Atlas, which includes data from 171 countries, provides a clear indication that the increased attention given to mental health in recent years has yet to result in a scale-up of quality mental services that are aligned with needs, according to a recent report released by WHO and made available to newsmen in Abuja.
The Atlas is a compilation of data provided by countries around the world on mental health policies, legislation, financing, human resources, availability and utilization of services, and data collection systems. It is published every three years.
It also serves as a framework for tracking progress toward the WHO’s Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan’s goals.
Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, “It is extremely concerning that, despite the evident and increasing need for mental health services, which has become even more acute during the COVID-19 pandemic, good intentions are not being met with investment.
“We must heed and act on this wake-up call and dramatically accelerate the scale-up of investment in mental health, because there is no health without mental health.”
His words : “None of the targets for effective leadership and governance for mental health, provision of mental health services in community-based settings, mental health promotion and prevention, and strengthening of information systems, were close to being achieved.
“In 2020, just 51% of WHO’s 194 Member States reported that their mental health policy or plan was in line with international and regional human rights instruments, way short of the 80% target. And only 52% of countries met the target relating to mental health promotion and prevention programmes, also well below the 80% target. The only 2020 target met was a reduction in the rate of suicide by 10%, but even then, only 35 countries said they had a stand-alone prevention strategy, policy or plan.
“Steady progress was evident, however, in the adoption of mental health policies, plans and laws, as well as in improvements in capacity to report on a set of core mental health indicators. However, the percentage of government health budgets spent on mental health has scarcely changed during the last years, still hovering around 2%. Moreover, even when policies and plans included estimates of required human and financial resources, just 39% of responding countries indicated that the necessary human resources had been allocated and 34% that the required financial resources had been provided”.
He noted that transfer of care to the community is slow, saying, “While the systematic decentralization of mental health care to community settings has long been recommended by WHO, only 25% of responding countries met all the criteria for integration of mental health into primary care. While progress has been made in training and supervision in most countries, the supply of medicines for mental health conditions and psychosocial care in primary health-care services remains limited.
“This is also reflected in the way that government funds to mental health are allocated, highlighting the urgent need for deinstitutionalization. More than 70% of total government expenditure on mental health was allocated to mental hospitals in middle-income countries, compared with 35% in high-income countries. This indicates that centralized mental hospitals and institutional inpatient care still receive more funds than services provided in general hospitals and primary health-care centres in many countries.
“There was, however, an increase in the percentage of countries reporting that treatment of people with specific mental health conditions (psychosis, bipolar disorder and depression) is included in national health insurance or reimbursement schemes – from 73% in 2017 to 80% (or 55% of Member States) in 2020. Global estimates of people receiving care for specific mental health conditions (used as a proxy for mental health care as a whole) remained less than 50%, with a global median of 40% of people with depression and just 29% of people with psychosis receiving care.”
Ghebreyesus said the increase in mental health promotion, but effectiveness questionable. “More encouraging was the increase in countries reporting mental health promotion and prevention programmes, from 41% of Member States in 2014 to 52% in 2020. However, 31% of total reported programmes did not have dedicated human and financial resources, 27% did not have a defined plan, and 39% had no documented evidence of progress and/or impact.”
He, however, noted that there us a slight increase in the mental health workforce. “The global median number of mental health workers per 100 000 population has increased slightly from nine workers in 2014 to 13 workers per 100 000 population in 2020. However, there was a very high variation between countries of different income levels, with the number of mental health workers in high-income countries more than 40 times higher than in low-income countries.”
Speaking on the new targets for 2030, he said the global targets reported on in the Mental Health Atlas are from WHO’s Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan, which contained targets for 2020 endorsed by the World Health Assembly in 2013. This Plan has now been extended to 2030 and includes new targets for the inclusion of mental health and psychosocial support in emergency preparedness plans, the integration of mental health into primary health care, and research on mental health.
“The new data from the Mental Health Atlas shows us that we still have a very long way to go in making sure that everyone, everywhere, has access to quality mental health care,” said Dévora Kestel, Director of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Use at WHO. “But I am encouraged by the renewed vigour that we saw from governments as the new targets for 2030 were discussed and agreed and am confident that together we can do what is necessary to move from baby steps to giant leaps forward in the next 10 years
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) called on Petroleum Tanker Drivers to call off their planned strike in the benefit of the Nigerian people on Sunday.
The strike is over the condition of highways in various parts of Nigeria that are used for the distribution of goods and services, including petroleum products, according to Garba Deen Muhammad, the Corporation’s Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division.
Even though it is not the NNPC’s obligation to develop or renovate highways, any disruption in the distribution of petroleum products to different parts of Nigeria will harm the company’s operations and jeopardize the country’s long-term energy security, according to the statement.
“In recognition of this, the NNPC wishes to assure the Petroleum Tanker Drivers that in addition to the ongoing efforts by other agencies of government, the NNPC has initiated a process that will provide a quick and effective solution to the roads network challenges as expressed by the PTD.
“Having recognised that the major reason slowing down the rehabilitation of the road networks in the country is the paucity of funds, the NNPC has expressed interest to invest in the reconstruction of select Federal roads under the Federal Government’s Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Task Credit Scheme.
“The thrust of the NNPC’s intervention is to make considerable funds available for the reconstruction of roads through it Future Tax Liability.
“NNPC as a responsible corporate entity recognises the legitimate concerns of the PTD, we however appeal to the leadership and members to reconsider their decision in the overall national interest.
“Accordingly, we urge PTD to immediately call off the strike notice and give the current efforts by government and its agencies a chance to solve the challenges in the interest of all.
“We also wish to strongly advice Nigerians not to engage in panic buying of petroleum products as the NNPC has sufficient stock to last through this festive seasond and beyond”.
Comrade Timi Frank, the former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has warned Nigerians to prepare for the darkest times ahead, only four days after President Muhammadu Buhari presented his 2022 budget to the National Assembly.
Frank, the United Liberation Movement for West Papua’s (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, expressed his concern based on President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent presentation of the “2022 Budget of Economic Growth and Sustainability” to a joint session of the National Assembly.
He explained that because the average Nigerian’s purchasing power has been inexorably eroded by rising costs of goods and services, as well as expected increases in petrol pump prices, electricity tariffs, and the imposition of new taxes, the people must inevitably tighten their belts in order to survive the economic tsunami ahead.
In a statement issued in Abuja, Frank chastised President Buhari for once again fooling Nigerians with a budget that he knows will cause them more harm than good.
He said: “In the history of Nigeria, “no President or head of state has lied to Nigerians like Buhari.
“For instance, Buhari stated that his regime is targeting N17.70trillion as total federally-collectible revenue for 2022. Yet, he plans to finance the 2022 Budget Deficit of N6.26trillion through borrowing thereby pushing up the nation’s debt.”
He lamented that since Buhari took over in 2015, annual budget performance has remained below 30 per cent, adding, “this is because they are budgets of lies and no one can implement a lie.”
He insisted that Buhari’s plan to seek further amendments to the Finance Act 2020, is meant to lay additional financial burden on the shoulders of Nigerians.
“This invariably means, among others, that some present taxes will either be reviewed upwards or new ones introduced,” he said.
Frank recalled that based on the law, which became fully operational on January 1, 2021, Value Added Tax (VAT) was increased from 5% to 7.5% while impoverished Nigerians are now being charged N50 levy on every electronic money transfer deposited in any bank or financial institution, on any account, on the sum of N10,000 and above.
According to him, this levy is in addition to other charges like Short Message Service (SMS), Account Maintenance, etc, which Nigerians are already being made to pay by commercial banks.
He also said that a new way to further plunder the downtrodden Nigerians by Buhari is the planned reintroduction of tollgates on Federal Highways in the country.
He said when the scheme becomes operational, according to the Federal Government, motorists will be made to pay N200, N500, and N1000 respectively depending on the type of vehicle.
He added: “It is grievous that Buhari did not tell Nigerians that as he was speaking to his Halleluya and Amen Boys in the highly comprised ninth National Assembly and fixing the 2022 official exchange rate at N410.15k to $1, the Naira on Thursday last week (same day) traded at N570 to the dollar at the unofficial (parallel) market.
“The Naira also exchanged at N410.81 per dollar at the Investors and Exporters (I&E) forex window, thereby putting a lie to Buhari’s proposal of N410.15.50 to a dollar officially.”
He insisted that the National Assembly had hurriedly approved the passage of the PIA, in the interest of Buhari and not for the benefit of Nigerians.
“The rubber stamp National Assembly hurriedly passed the Petroleum Industry Act, not because they love Nigeria but because Buhari and his cronies want to perpetually be in charge of the incorporated entities,” he said.
He, however, recalled that Buhari and Nigerian oil industry have become inseparable since the the regime of Olusegun Obasanjo as Head of State.
He said: “When Olusegun Obasanjo became a military Head of State in 1976, Buhari, then a Colonel, was appointed the Federal Commissioner (Minister) for Petroleum and Natural Resources.
“In 1977, when the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) was created, Buhari was appointed as its Chairman, a position he held until 1978.
“Buhari served as the Chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF), a body created by the regime of late General Sani Abacha. He has doubled as the President, Commander-In-Chief, and Minister of Petroleum Resources since 2015.
“I dare say that with the ongoing incorporation of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, in line with provisions in the PIA, the petroleum industry in Nigeria will continue to be in the firm grips of Buhari, post 2023, through his proxies and cronies who have concluded plans to mop up the initial share capital of N200billion of the company soon to be put up for sale to Nigerians.
“The purchase and control of Nigerian power assets by both present and former political office holders is telling in this direction.”
He insisted that Nigerians are terribly disappointed in some opposition lawmakers in the National Assembly, who joined APC lawmakers to clap for Buhari as witnessed by viewers during the live telecast of the budget presentation session.
He said: “Instead of them to make Buhari to understand that they were only there because duty demands that they be there, they were apparently carried away.
“One wonders if they cannot borrow a leaf from the way opposition lawmakers in other climes react whenever the President told a lie or says anything that is doubtful or inaccurate during presentations.”
As a gift from the French government, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) received 501,600 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines from the COVAX facility in Nigeria.
The Executive Director of the NPHCDA, Dr. Faisal Shuaib, said that Nigeria was one of the first African countries to get vaccines from the French government while collecting the vaccines at the National Strategic Cold Store in Abuja on Friday.
It is heartening to notice that France has not only been a solid development partner for Nigeria, but has also been extremely fraternal in all directions, according to him.
France’s belief in Nigeria’s ability to be a proactive and forward-thinking partner in the worldwide struggle to halt the COVID-19 epidemic is demonstrated by AstraZeneca’s donation of nearly half a million medicines to Nigeria.
According to the NPHCDA’s director, Nigeria’s vaccine storage facilities have remained efficient and well-maintained.
While also stating that no logistics requirements for optimal management and utilization of all COVID-19 vaccinations accessible in the country were compromised.
The federal government, he said, had put in place the necessary mechanisms to ensure vaccine monitoring and accountability.
His words ; “We track utilization of all COVID-19 vaccines in all the states of the Federation and receive daily report from our Senior Supervisors and State Immunization officers who are on the field to monitor the management and administration of the vaccines“.
Earlier in his remarks, the French Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Jerome Pasquier, commended the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in addressing the pandemic through procurement of vaccines and getting them across the country.
He said that he was happy that the French government was donating over half a million doses of the vaccine and encouraged Nigerians yet to take the vaccine to do so.
“After 3 years in Nigeria, today happens to be my final assignment in Nigeria as i leave the country for France tomorrow, to begin my next assignment,” he disclosed.
The ambassador noted that the French board was fully opened to Nigerians that were vaccinated.
“If you have a proof of vaccination, that will be said you can go to France. You do not need to have a COVID-19 test before boarding the plane. You do not need to have a COVID-19 test, when you are in France,but with your certificate from Nigeria, you can get tested, which is required in some places around the world. So, both regulations apply to Nigerian nationals. Fresh nationals, or any other nationality, because we know wherever the progress, doesn’t make difference,” Pasquier said.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) Country Representative Dr. Walter Mulombo said that Nigerians need to get vaccinated to meet the new target of 40% benchmark, by Dec.2021.
He also stated that the organization had also called on countries which have already achieved high coverage to swap their place in the vaccine distribution line with countries that have had less access.
He commended Nigeria on its vaccines distribution and also its technology approach in its vaccination programme, saying, other countries need to come to Nigeria to learn the act of vaccine distribution.
Fully vaccinated passengers from Nigeria to England will no longer need to undergo a pre-departure test, a day 8 test, or self-isolate for 10 days, as was previously required.
The new policy goes into effect on Monday for people who have been fully immunized with AstraZeneca (including Covidshield), Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson.
Previously, fully vaccinated Nigerian passengers were obliged to remain in the UK for ten days and undergo a COVID-19 test.
However, quarantine processes have been eliminated under the new policy.
In a statement titled, ‘UK changes travel rules for fully vaccinated travellers from Nigeria,’ the British High Commission said the traveller must also have a valid proof of vaccination recognised by the British Government which is the certificates with valid QR codes as issued by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency.
The statement read I have parts , “From Monday, 11 October 2021, fully vaccinated travellers from Nigeria will be able to come to England without needing to provide a pre-departure test, undertake a day 8 test or self-isolate for 10 days, although will still need to book and pay for a day 2 test.
“This policy applies to those fully vaccinated with AstraZeneca (including Covidshield), Pfizer, Moderna and Janssen (Johnson and Johnson). Fully vaccinated means that you have had a complete course of an approved vaccine at least 14 days before you arrive in England.
“The day you had your final dose does not count as one of the 14 days. You must be able to prove that you have been fully vaccinated under a vaccination programme and have valid proof of vaccination recognised by the British Government: (for Nigeria, the certificates with valid QR codes as issued by Nigeria’s National Primary Health Care Development Agency are recognised).”
But unvaccinated Nigerian traveller to England, the Commission clarified, is still required to take a pre-departure COVID-19 test – to be taken three days before travel, book and pay for day 2 and day 8 COVID-19 tests – to be taken after arrival and complete a passenger locator form – any time in the 48 hours before arrival.
“After you arrive, you must: quarantine at home or in the place you are staying for 10 days, take a pre-booked COVID-19 test on or before day 2 and on or after day 8,” the high commission further said.
The statement quoted the acting British High Commissioner, Ben Llewellyn-Jones, as saying, “The exemption of fully-vaccinated Nigerians travelling to the UK from providing a pre-departure test and self-isolating for 10 days, is a very welcome development.
“To make this happen, we have been working closely with Nigeria’s National Primary Health Care Development Agency on recognising Nigeria’s vaccine certification, which we have now done.
“The UK remains committed to opening up international travel and enabling those who wish to enter the UK, to do so safely. Vaccines work and – as the pandemic has shown – no one is safe until we are all safe. I would encourage all eligible people to get vaccinated.
