COVID-19: Nigeria, others to take measures against China over maltreatment — Onyeama

The Federal Government has said that it is in discussion with other African countries on the steps and measure to take against the maltreatment of Africans in China.

Besides, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama said the continent planned to take definitive steps on the issue.

Meanwhile, Onyeama has bided for more time from stranded Nigerians abroad on the commencement of their evacuation.

Though, Emirate airline has provided plans for the airlifting of stranded Nigerians in United Arab Emirates.

The Minister spoke on Thursday while responding to questions on both issues during the daily briefing of the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19 in Abuja. Over 2000 Nigerians are stranded across the globe following the lockdown as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Onyeama said the government is ready to follow up the case to its logical conclusion, assuring that the government will not compromise the dignity of Nigerians and the entire black race on the alter of economic cooperation with China.

He said, ” we have been engaging with the Chinese government at various levels. At the level f our consulate in Guangzhou, which is where these cases of discrimination and racism have been taken place and also the Central level in Beijing without our ambassador. We have made it clear to the Chines government in no uncertain terms, unequivocally that under no circumstance will we accept a racial discrimination against Nigerians or indeed Africans or blacks in China. That is a red line for us.

“They have in turn told us that there is no case of that but clearly we have seen video, I have received reports and we told them that it is unacceptable and we are also engaging with other African countries to decide and work together definitive steps and measures that we will take because of this situation.

“In addition, I have directed our consulate in Guangzhou to systematically detail every single case of dIscrimination and every single case of loss or damage suffered by any Nigeria and we will pursue each and every single one very robustly with the Chinese government. If it requires compensation and damages etc.

” So for us, as I said, it is a red line and we are going to fight it to the very end. We are extremely disappointed because we have excellent relations with government and people of China that such a thing can happen at this stage.

“When there were calls for travels to be banned to China when they had the outbreak in Wuhan, we went along with the World Health Organisation (WHO) advice not to place a ban on China and we showed real solidarity because we also had our own experience of epidemics with Ebola and so forth . But really we are deeply wounded by what has happened to Nigerians and other Africans in China and of course the government has given us explanations and so forth but really it is something we never expected and we will pursue to its final conclusion and we would not make any compromises in doing so.

“There have been some comments in public domain, as if our policy, that we are somehow held hostage by the fact that we have receive a lot of economic cooperation from China in the past. But I can assure you where this is concerned, we are going to pursue to the very end irrespective of whatever economic cooperation that we have with China because in the world of today, we absolutely we not and can’t tolerate and accept and from of racism or discrimination against blacks against Africans and as the largest Black Country in the world, African country in the world, it behove on us to be in the front line in defending the divinity of blacks and Africans every where in the world.”