Reports have revealed that the Chinese medical team which arrived Nigeria in April has been unable to leave the country following the unavailability of commercial flights to Beijing, China.
The Executive Director, China Civil Engineering Construction Company Nigeria Limited, Mr Jacques Liao, explained that the personnel had concluded their assignment, which included assisting with the installation of some equipment and sharing COVID-19 experience with the Federal Government.
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He also disclosed that the medical experts were still at the Idu area of Abuja where they were accommodated.
Liao stressed that the personnel were supposed to spend one month in the country, adding that they were issued three-month visas.
He said:
They (Chinese medical team) are waiting for their flight and this depends on when the airspace would be opened. You know, they came by a charter flight because of the personal protective equipment and other medical materials they brought, but they can’t go back by charter flight, so they are waiting for regular commercial flights.
They are still here (in Abuja) and they would still assist the Ministry of Health anytime they require their assistance.
Also, the company’s Managing Director, Michael Jiang Yigao, said the team was in Nigeria to share their experiences in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.
Yigao stated:
The team had a telecast meeting with the Minister of Health and some doctors around the country and shared their experience in China on how they are fighting the virus and the meeting was very positive
They are here with us and have continued to teach our staff on how to protect themselves because protection and prevention are more important than the treatment.
Right now, commercial flights to China are not open yet, but when the flights are open again, we are considering the team going back to China.
Recall that the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, had said during a briefing by Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 that he did not know the whereabouts of the Chinese visitors, stressing that they were not guests of the Federal Government but that of the construction company.
