Humiliated and dehumanized Nigerians including students on study scholarship in China who have been evicted from their hotels and houses and left to freeze in the rain-lashed streets amid COVID-19 infection have sent out Save-Our-Souls to President Muhammadu Buhari and the Foreign Affairs Minister.
The constant degradation the Nigerian nationals have been subjected to in the past weeks in China have left them helpless and distressed. Peresecondnews reports that Africans particularly Nigerians are being evicted from their homes and hotels and thrown into the torrential rain unsheltered.
Many of them are now destitute on the streets of Guangzhog as Chinese authorities go from house-to-house hunting for Africans especially Nigerian nationals, according to reports. A distress message from a student reads: “Guangzhou Consular Office seems to be helpless about the situation, kindly help to reach out the Ministry of Foreign Affarirs and Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) to find out what they are doing in concrete terms to save Nigerians from this molestation.
“Nigerians are being targeted for eviction, many of them are now destitute on the streets of Guangzhog as Chinese authorities go from house to house to fish them out and even arrest them on suspicion of being COVID-19 positive.’’ Nigerian businessmen are not spared in the harassment by Chinese authorities as some who had travelled to the Asian country for business a few days before the Federal Government announced a lockdown have been forced out of their hotels and are now stranded.
They are accusing the country’s authorities of maltreatment just as they said the Nigerian government did not care about their plights. A source said a Nigerian was confirmed negative after been quarantined for 14 days and three days later, the authorities came back and ordered him back to the hotel for another 14 days of quarantine.
“The annoying part is that they will seize your passport and ask you to pay for your lodging throughout the period,” he said. He lamented that they have been living off on the generosity of a few Nigerians with Chinese or European wives who come to the streets and under bridges to serve them snacks. Reacting to the developments on Thursday, the Federal Government said “it is concerned about the plight of Nigerians who are currently being maltreated in China and stranded Nigerians in other countries.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, said on Thursday that arrangements are in top gear to airlift stranded Nigerians abroad who require emergency evacuation. He asked the stranded Nigerians to report to the Nigerian Embassies in those countries. “The ministry wishes to inform that staff of the Missions are reaching out to Nigerians in their respective host countries and in due course, the necessary details provided will enable the Federal Government work out the logistics for proper implementation.
“Our heads of mission have maintained communication with the leadership of the ministry at this period to keep the ministry informed of the conditions of Nigerians in their respective host countries,’’ he said in a press statement on Thursday.
It was signed by the spokesman of the minister, Mr Ferdinand Nwonye, a copy of which was transmitted to Persecondnews.
Also, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said the issue was being addressed by the relevant authorities. She asked Nigerians including students being thrown out of their hotels in Guangzhou, China, to report to the Nigerian Consulate in the Asian country.
“They should report at the Nigerian Consulate for proper documentation and further actions,’’ she said in reaction to questions about the steps being taken by the Nigerian government to save the lives of its citizens.
Source: persecondnews
