By our reporter| The Federal Government on Tuesday blamed poor communication for the alleged maltreatment of Nigerians in Guangzhou, China in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, who the disclosure at a press briefing explained that a thorough investigation carried out by the Chinese and Nigerian authorities revealed that a group of Nigerians in the last flight to Guanzhou tested positive for COVID-19 including a Nigerian lady who owns a restaurant in the city.
The Chinese government, he said, insisted they be quarantined with strict measures but that a Nigerian national who tested positive for the virus wanted to leave the hospital after a week of quarantine and when he was restrained, he bit a nurse.
Onyema also stressed that the videos circulating online were of Nigerians who flouted the strict measures and the measures to check them were misinterpreted.
He added that the Chinese government especially the Guanzhou authorities should have communicated with the Nigerian consulate in China.
According to him, Nigerian officials have met with their Chinese counterparts to register their displeasure and the Chinese government assured them that they have zero tolerance for racism, adding that they were on top of the situation.
The ministe further stated that efforts towards the quarantine of Nigerians who tested positive to coronavirus, coupled with strict measures to be adopted following the flouting of the quarantine should have been a joint effort between both countries.
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