A Nigerian research scientist based in Singapore, Jonathan Obaje, says it would benefit the world to allow the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, as clinical data has so far shown that it is less lethal than earlier variants of the contagion.

Mr Obaje said on Sunday that up till the second week of the “African Omicron” discovery, clinical data from across the globe have confirmed that the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus is less lethal than the Delta and other earlier variants.

“If Omicron is confirmed less lethal, scientifically expedient action thereafter will be for everyone to open gates, for Omicron to quickly spread and become dominant globally. Omicron will then become the new harmless COVID-19 virus,” Mr Obaje asserted.

He emphasised further: “Such will be the best way to save humanity from further COVID-19 calamity. Current negative media hype, panic and political measures are unscientific. We are most likely going to have a Merry Christmas with the African Omicron.”

The researcher also drew inferences from the experiences of SARS disease that ravaged mainly Asian countries in 2002.

“We must remember that the severe acute respiratory syndrome Covid virus (SARS-COV) of 2002 was eventually weakened to common flu by our innate immunity.

“The human immunity system is the most powerful and most sophisticated defence system that has sustained humanity for ages. Advances in science and technology are great, but they have their limitations.

“We now have enough scientific capabilities to confirm in one more week, whether or not the Omicron variant is less lethal than the Delta variant. So far, many reports from across the globe indicate so.”

Mr Obaje is a former vice president of Nigeria in the diaspora in Singapore.