protective suit approach a South African Airways Airbus A340-600
plane on March 14, 2020 as it arrives in Polokwane, in Limpopo
province, carrying South African citizens who have been repatriated
from Wuhan, China, where they were working when the novel
coronavirus (COVID-19) erupted. GUILLEM SARTORIO /
AFP
Britain on Wednesday introduced restrictions on travel
from South Africa over the spread of another new
variant of coronavirus, UK Health Minister Matt Hancock
said.
The restrictions, which applied with immediate effect, were
introduced following the discovery of two cases of the virus strain
in Britain.
“This new variant is highly concerning, because it is yet more
transmissible, and it appears to have mutated further than the new
variant that has been discovered in the UK,” Hancock said,
referring to a strain of the virus discovered in Britain which has
also been found to be more contagious.
READ ALSO: Canada Extends UK Flight Suspension
Until Jan 6
The health minister said that all individuals in the UK who had
contracted the variant originating
in South Africa had been placed in quarantine as
well as their close contacts.
In addition to the travel restrictions, Hancock said the
government was also asking anyone who has been in close contact
with someone who had been in South Africa in the
last two weeks to quarantine.
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“They must restrict all contact with any other person
whatsoever,” he said.
The discovery of cases of what officials believe is a new, more
transmissible variant of the coronavirus in the UK follows the
announcement last week that a new strain had spread throughout
the south of England.
In response to the growing number of coronavirus cases, Britain
ordered a series of coronavirus restrictions across the affected
areas.
More than 50 nations also imposed their own travel restrictions
on the UK, including France.
A ban on cross-Channel freight to Europe has wrought havoc
around the key port of Dover and led to fears of food shortages in
the country’s supermarkets because of paralysis in supply
chains.
Hancock on Wednesday announced the expansion of strict lockdown
measures across further parts of the south of England to
contain the spread of the disease.
With more than 68,000 deaths from the virus, the United Kingdom
is one of the hardest hit countries in Europe.
AFP
As the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) takes
off on January 1, 2021, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment,
Mr. Adeniyi Adebayo has called on Nigerians, particularly
industrialists to take advantage of the inherent opportunities to
promote Made-in-Nigeria goods.
![image](/2020/10/lawreport.jpg")
In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Ifedayo Sayo,
the minister said Nigeria cannot afford to be left out of the
emerging African economic block, stressing that AfCTA will form a
3.4 trillion dollar economic bloc, which Nigeria must play a
leading role.
![image](/2020/10/NWLRland.jpg")
The AfCFTA, the world’s largest free trade area in terms of 54
participating countries, will commence on January 1, 2021.
The commencement date will signal the beginning of the
implementation of a single continental market for goods and
services, with free movement of business persons and investments
across Africa.
According to the minister, “The journey started on July 7, 2019,
when Nigeria became the 53rd African country to sign the AfCFTA
treaty. Long before then, it has always been the dream of Nigeria
and Africa’s founding fathers to unite the continent in one, shared
prosperity.
“The African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement will form a
$3.4 trillion economic bloc, which Nigeria cannot afford to be left
out of.
“We have worked tirelessly to ensure that Nigeria not only
partakes as a signatory in name but become a major trade and
economic powerhouse, even more than we have been within the ECOWAS
region.”
Also speaking on readiness measures taken by the government
towards the effective implementation of AfCFTA, the Secretary,
National Action Committee on AfCFTA, Francis Anatogu said, “We are
effectively coordinating with all critical stakeholders to ensure a
smooth playing field for Nigerian traders and businessmen to
explore the vast markets that will be opened up come January 1st,
2021.
“We are set to commence a major communication campaign and have
tagged January 2021 as AfCFTA Awareness and Sensitisation month,
which would take place across the six geopolitical zones, and would
involve various stakeholder groups in public, private and civil
society sectors, as well as other critical traditional
institutions.”
Established on May 30, 2018, the agreement has been signed by 54
AU member countries and ratified by 31 AU member countries,
including Nigeria in July 2019 and November 2020 respectively.
AfCFTA is expected to help expand Nigeria’s inter-trade portfolio,
boost competitiveness, and increase GDP.