CORONAVIRUS: NIGERIANS TO HOUSE OF REPS, ‘DON’T TRIVIALISE OUR ORDEAL’

NIGERIANS IN CHINA EXPRESS DISPLEASURE OVER FAILURE OF GOVT TO EVACUATE THEM FROM WUHAN

The House of Representatives has been accused by Nigerians in China of trivialising the ordeal of over 60 citizens stranded in the city of Wuhan. This was stated by a Nigerian in China, Nnamdi Onwuka, in an e-mail entitled, ‘Don’t trivialise our situation’.

He wrote, “The Nigerian community in China has expressed shock and disappointment in the members of House of Representatives for trivialising the ordeal of over 60 Nigerians stranded in the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China following a motion by one of the lawmakers calling for necessary actions by the Federal Government to ensure that those Nigerians returned to their fatherland.

“It is unfortunate that rather than attracting a sober reflection and robust deliberation from the lawmakers, the motion became object of mockery by those who swore to an oath to ensure that their official conducts were in the best interest of Nigerians. The video clips of that ‘show of shame’ in the legislative chamber has gone viral here (in China) and Nigerians have become objects of jokes by citizens of other countries who could not fathom why responsible legislators would make mockery of such a well-conceived motion, even as other nations, including Kenya have taken steps to remove their citizens from Wuhan.”

He added, “We reiterate our call for the immediate evacuation of our compatriots in Wuhan as government officials have repeatedly told the world that Nigeria has the resources to quarantine returnees as it did during the outbreak of Ebola.

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 “While we appreciate the Nigerian ambassador to China, Ahmed Jidda, for the donation of 20,000 Yuan (approximately N1m) to Nigerians trapped in Wuhan, it is the considered view of Nigerian community that such piecemeal gestures though helpful, is not a long-term solution to the crisis. It is imperative that the international community fully collaborates with the Chinese government to ensure that this challenge is resolved as soon as possible”