268 Nigerians arrive Abuja from China

We confirmed that at least 268 Nigerians who were evacuated from China have arrived Abuja.

The flight that conveyed the evacuees landed at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport this afternoon.

Disclosing this in a tweet, the Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said that the returnees would be proceeding on compulsory 14 days quarantine as stipulated by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.

Some of the nationals had faced serial racial discriminations in Guangzhou, China, from provincial officials.

They were reportedly evicted from their apartments and hotels following their alleged refusal to go for the mandatory quarantine imposed by the Guangdong Provincial authorities sequel to the outbreak of coronavirus in Guangzhou.

Some Nigerians sent a video of a woman with two children who were staying on the streets.

In the footage, the unidentified woman was feeding her infant daughter as the older second child slept in a baby walker; She was allegedly evicted from her apartment.

But the Chinese authorities said they subsequently provided free hotel accommodations for 207 Nigerians.

The government said the beneficiaries included Nigerians who were evicted from their hotels and apartments by officials in the wake of the compulsory quarantine and testing of foreigners for coronavirus by the Guangzhou Municipal Authorities.

301 Chinese citizens evacuated from Nigeria

Reports reaching us has it that at least 301 Chinese citizens have returned home from Nigeria.

The nationals were evacuated on Thursday night through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

The about 20 hours flight is expected to arrive at the Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, China on Friday evening barring any technical or logistics hitches.

“Air Peace on Thursday, May 28, 2020, operated its second flight to China as we evacuated 301 Chinese nationals back to their country.

The flight departed the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos at exactly 22:05 yesterday to arrive at the Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, China,” the airline said in a statement on Friday.

Although the Federal Government had shut all airports in the county in March due to the coronavirus pandemic, it allowed essential flights – for evacuation, medical supplies, amongst others.

The Federal Government has said that it would give priority to evacuees in China when evacuation flights eventually resume.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, disclosed this during a briefing by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in Abuja.

He said that the government was aware of the harsh climate against nationals in China, noting that they would be repatriated as soon as new modalities were put in place. He said, 

“We are very hopeful that maybe by next week, we should be able to commence evacuation. There is a large number of Nigerians still wanting to be evacuated. In addition to the UK, there are Nigerians in China, this is something we are not happy about.

It is a real priority for us to bring all the evacuees back home but we know those in China are facing very essential challenges and as soon this mechanism is put in place, I’d like to assure them that we’ll do everything possible to prioritise their return.

In regards to compensation to Nigerians who were caught up in the crisis in Guangzhou, China due to the discrimination on the basis of nationality and race, I spoke to the Consular General in Guangzhou who was in direct contact with the Nigerians there to provide details of any loss they may have suffered. We will now engage on that basis, with the Chinese Government.

When I summoned the Chinese Ambassador, Mr Zhou Pingjian, he also made these commitments, that they will be very interested to receive the details of any complaints or loss, and I must say to date that nothing has come in formally from our Consulate in Guangzhou.”