COVID-19: Chinese Medics' Whereabouts Finally Confirmed Following PDP's Ultimatum

 

Following the Peoples Democratic Party's (PDP) demand for the federal government to declare the whereabouts of the 15-member team of Chinese medics who entered Nigeria to help tame the spread of Coronavirus, the medical experts were on Monday said to have been with the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, CCECC.

AllNews reports that the location of the Chinese team who arrived Nigeria April 8, became an issue after the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, said he would really be grateful if Nigerians stopped asking him about the whereabouts of the visiting medical team.

PDP said the minister’s statement that the government couldn’t tell the team’s whereabouts had heightened apprehensions in the public space that the Chinese team, whose identity and activities have been allegedly shrouded in secrecy, might have been brought in by a certain “cabal” for another purpose outside the general public good.

The opposition party described as suspicious, creepy and weird that the Minister of Health, who had assured that the Chinese were brought to render medical services and trainings and went personally to receive them at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja on April 8, 2020; in an elaborately publicized event, can allegedly no longer account for the team.

“The PDP recalls how officials of the APC-led administration had vehemently defended the invitation of the Chinese team and offered them full state protocol upon arrival, only to now turn around to disclaim the supposed experts, deny involvement with them and even forbid Nigerians from enquiring about their whereabouts,” read a statement issued by PDP's national publicity secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, at the weekend.

Speaking with newsmen, the Managing Director of CCECC, Michael Yigao explained that the team came into the country to specially help CCECC fight the disease and protect its employees and that the medical experts would be heading home as soon as the ban on commercial flights to China is lifted.

According to him, “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’re fighting the virus and the meeting was very positive.

“They are here with us and have continued to teach our staff how to protect themselves because protection and prevention are more important than the treatment.

“Most of the workers understand the situation now and they know the risk, so they follow the proper procedures and cooperate with their instructors.”

Yiago praised the Nigerian government for its reaction to fighting the disease, saying the CCECC would like to build on the strong mutual relationship between Nigeria and China.

He also assured that CCECC would continue to give quality support to the Nigerian people in all areas.

His words, “Right now, commercial flight to China is not open, but when flights are open again, we’re considering the team going back to China.

“In a big country like Nigeria, it can be a bit difficult to control a pandemic because you will have to make all the people of such a large country understand that it is serious and real thing.

“I think Nigeria is taking this very seriously and you can see it in the implementation of the lockdown and the suspension of international flights etc.

“And like other companies in Nigeria, we will do whatever we can to help the country, like building treatment centres and training people on how to handle the virus.

“We understand the COVID-19 pandemic challenge in Nigeria because we are based here and have a lot of employees and we do believe, that with efforts from the government from the people, we will win this war.

“I hope the people of Nigeria understand that we need the help of all peoples across the world to win this fight against coronavirus.”