Shehu Sani Speaks On Discovery Of Omicron Variant In Nigeria

Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani has reacted to the discovery of the Omicron variant also known as the B.1.1.529 lineage in the country.

Naija News reports that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) had announced on Wednesday that two cases of the variant were discovered in the country through genomic sequencing.

In a statement released on its Facebook page and signed by its Director-General, Dr Ifedayo Adetifa, the NCDC said that the cases were linked to two Nigerians who arrived in the country from South Africa last week.

The centre stated that the national travel advisory has also been revised by the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 and now requires all inbound travellers to Nigeria to present a negative COVID-19 test result done not more than 48hrs before departure.

According to the NCDC, pre-booking and payment for all-day 2 and day 7, COVID-19 PCR tests are prerequisites for travel.

In a tweet via his verified Twitter page on Wednesday, Sani lamented the confirmation of the new COVID-19 variant in the country.

The former lawmaker, therefore, urged the Federal Government to take serious action to prevent the spread of the Omicron variant in Nigeria.

He wrote: “Now that two cases of #OmicronVariant have been confirmed here in Nigeria by @NCDCgov via South African passengers, serious action must be taken to prevent its spread. #Omicron”

Now that two cases of #OmicronVariant has been confirmed here in Nigeria by @NCDCgov via South African passengers,serious action must be taken to prevent its spread. #Omicron

— Senator Shehu Sani (@ShehuSani) December 1, 2021