The People’s Republic of China has promised better, non-discriminatory health management services for Nigerians and other Africans., even as the Asian county applies stringent measures to contain the spread of the dreaded COVID-19 in the country.
The Chinese promise followed a formal letter of protest by the Federal Government over the shabby treatment of Nigerians in Guangzhou.
The Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson, Zhao Lijian, responded to Nigeria’s concerns through a statement on Sunday.
Lijian said the authorities of Guangdong where some Nigerians were evicted from their homes and hotels last week, were working to improve their working method.
According to him, the provincial government would henceforth provide health management services without differentiation, designate hotels for the accommodation of foreigners required to undergo medical observation and adopt price adjustment for those in financial difficulties.
The spokesman assured in the state that Chinese authorities would also set up an effective communication mechanism with foreign consulates-general in Guangzhou and reject all racist and discriminatory remarks.
A video clip that has gone viral, shows a visibly angry Nigerian envoy challenging a Chinese (supposedly a director in the Chinese ministry) on the ill-treatment bordering on racism being meted on Nigerians in particular in the originating country of the globally ravaging COVID-19.
The Nigerians complained that they were placed under compulsory 14-day quarantine, adding that despite testing negative for COVID-19, the authorities insisted that the quarantine period would be extended by another two weeks, a directive they resisted.
The Chinese officials were also said to have confiscated the passports of the Nigerians.
A second viral video also showed a Nigerian diplomat berating a Chinese official over the incident.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, consequently summoned the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr Zhou Pingjian, over the maltreatment of Nigerians in China.
The ministry confirmed in a tweet last Thursday that Onyeama engaged with the envoy over the eviction and stigmatisation of Nigerians in his home country.
But Lijian in his statement said, “The Guangdong authorities attach great importance to some African countries’ concerns and are working promptly to improve their working method.
“The measures include: to provide health management services without differentiation, to designate hotels for the accommodation of foreigners required to undergo medical observation and adopt price adjustment for those in financial difficulties; to set up effective communication mechanism with foreign consulates-general in Guangzhou; and to reject all racist and discriminatory remarks.”
