The UK has removed all 11 African countries from its red list, which severely restricted travel between those states and the UK.
Only British or Irish nationals or those with residency in the UK could re-enter the country.
The restrictions were first imposed last month in order to slow the spread of the Omicron variant of Covid-19.
Some critics had described the measure as racist as only African nations appeared on the red list.
Initially they were all in southern Africa, including South Africa and Botswana, where Omicron was first identified, but Nigeria was later added.
The 11 countries affected are:
- Angola
- Botswana
- Eswatini
- Lesotho
- Malawi
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Nigeria
- South Africa
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
The restrictions will be lifted at 04:00 GMT on Wednesday.
“Now that there is community transmission of Omicron in the UK and Omicron has spread so widely across the country the travel red list lis now less effective in slowing the incursion of Omicron from abroad,” Health Minster Sajid Javid told the UK’s parliament.
Also, in a statement, British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing CB said: “On Tuesday 14th December, UK Ministers made the decision – based on scientific and public health data – to remove Nigeria from the UK’s travel red list. The emergence of the Omicron variant is a reminder that the COVID-19 pandemic is not over, and like all countries around the world the UK has had to take difficult decisions to protect public health.
“We took this necessary precautionary action to give us time to understand the challenge we and others faced, and to slow down the spread of Omicron while scientists urgently assessed what impact the variant has on vaccines, treatments and transmissibility. When we announced the heightened restrictions we made clear that we would remove them as soon as we could, and that is the decision Ministers have taken today.
“I know this will be welcome news for students, tourists, businesses and families in the UK and Nigeria, although I recognise the impact that these temporary health measures have had.”
Javid said: “The red list bought our scientists time to learn more about Omicron and to slow the seeding of the variant from abroad into the UK. Now that there are high levels of community transmission, it is right to remove the red list and focus on our national effort to tackle Omicron.
Currently, all UK arrivals from red list countries must pay for and self-isolate in a pre-booked, government-approved hotel for 10 days.
