Nigerian govt moves to evacuate nationals from China over alleged maltreatment

The Federal Government of Nigeria has said that it would immediately begin the process of evacuating its nationals from the Guangzhou, Guangdong Province of China, following revelations regarding the reported maltreatment of Nigerians.

This was revealed on Friday by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, who said that he had summoned the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr Zhou Pingjian, for the second time in one week to register Nigeria’s displeasure with the incident.

Onyeama also informed while briefing newsmen in Abuja that the federal government would ensure compensation for about 100 Nigerians who were evicted from their homes and hotels by Chinese officials in Guangzhou.

The minister stated, “After we had made a statement in the media, I have continued to receive information from Nigerians in China and I engaged directly with our officials in Guangzhou and people who were on the ground.

READ ALSO: Fani-Kayode slams Buhari’s minister for describing China’s ‘inhuman treatment’ of Nigerians as ‘half-truths’

“And I must say that contrary to what we believed, that the situation had stabilised and was fully under control and there were no longer issues, it became apparent that there were still very distressing incidences and that it was almost as if it was an institutional attack on the rights and dignity of Nigerians and Africans there.”

Onyeama added, “So, as I said, with confirmation from people who were there, I again, invited today (Friday), the Chinese Ambassador and presented these facts to him. I said ‘look, contrary to what was agreed, promises made and guarantees given, the situation does not seem to have ameliorated and this is totally unacceptable.’

“That we have stories of Nigerians who had been evicted from their residences and were unable to get back in; that they had been moved from where they were into more expensive hotels and Nigerians not being served when they went to restaurants and shopping malls. I told him this was totally unacceptable and something needed to be done,” he added.

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