The UK government has removed Nigeria and 10 other countries from its red list.

UK Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Sajid Javid, announced this on Tuesday while addressing Members of Parliament.

According to him, the red list is “now less effective in slowing the incursion of Omicron from abroad”.

The 10 other countries initially placed on the list include Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The red list was reintroduced in late November as a precaution after the emergence of the new Omicron variant of the COVID-19. But now all UK arrivals from those countries must pay for and self-isolate in a pre-booked, government-approved hotel for 10 days.

The reversal comes just days after Nigeria said it had plans to also place the UK on a red list.