Following the inhuman treatment meted out on some Nigerians by the Chinese authorities in Beijing, the leadership of the House of Representatives has expressed its displeasure over the development, considering the relationship between both countries.
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At a meeting with the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Zhou Pingjian, which also had the Minority Leader, Rep. Ndudi Elumelu and Deputy Minority Leader, Rep. Toby Okechukwu, in attendance, the Speaker of the House, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, said such treatment of Nigerians in China must be addressed immediately.
Gbajabiamila provided video evidence to the Ambassador, with the footage showing a Nigerian challenging Chinese officials over the maltreatment.
According to him, the viral media videos from Beijing showed Nigerians being forced out of their houses and hotels, rounded up and their passports seized by the Chinese police.
Some Nigerians, according to video evidence, were being forced into another 14-day quarantine after the initial 14 days they had spent for the same purpose over the COVID-19 pandemic in China.
The Speaker said that there should be an official explanation for treating Nigerians in such a manner.
While asking the Chinese Ambassador if he has taken up the issue with his home country, Gbajabiamila said:
If the diplomatic relationships between our two countries are for the mutual benefits of our citizens, then there must be respect for our citizens, and we should not compromise it.
As a government, we will not allow Chinese or other nationals to be maltreated just as we will not allow Nigerians to be maltreated in other countries.
The way you treat your citizens, we expect that’s how you’ll treat others. We will not tolerate our citizens breaking your laws, but the crime of one citizen cannot be used to stigmatize the whole country,” Gbajabiamila stated.
It appears that’s what happened in this case. You can’t use one brush to smear the whole wall. Whatever the reason, it cannot be used and taken out on the entire community in China”.
In his response, Ambassador Pingjian said that although he has not been provided with details of the incidence, he would take it up with the Chinese government.
See Video Below:
