Nigeria has started discussion with other African countries on the definitive steps to be taken on the maltreatment of their citizens in China.
It is also to commence the airlifting of stranded Nigerians next month, with those in the United Arab Emirates being the first.
Over 2,000 Nigerians, are stranded across the globe following the lockdown occasioned by the COVID-19(Coronavirus) pandemic.
Foreign Affairs Minister Geoffrey Onyeama made this known during the daily briefing of the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19 in Abuja on Thursday.
Onyeama, who was fielding questions from reporters at the event, added that Nigeria had “drawn a red line” for the Chinese authorities on the maltreatment of its citizens and entire black race.
Onyeama said government was ready to follow up the maltreatment of Nigerians in China to its logical conclusion since it had resolved not to compromise the dignity of its citizens and all people of black colour on the alter of economic cooperation with China.
His words: “We have been engaging with the Chinese government at various levels. At the level f our consulate in Guangzhou, which is where cases of discrimination and racism have been taking place and also the Central level in Beijing without our ambassador.
“We have made it clear to the Chinese government in no uncertain terms, unequivocally that under no circumstance will we accept a racial discrimination against Nigerians or indeed Africans or blacks in China. That is a red line for us.
“They have in turn told us that there is no case of that but clearly we have seen a video, I have received reports and we told them that it is unacceptable and we are also engaging with other African countries to decide and work together, definitive steps and measures that we will take because of this situation.
”In addition, I have directed our consulate in Guangzhou to systematically detail every single case of dIscrimination and every single case of loss or damage suffered by any Nigerian. We will pursue each and every single one very robustly with the Chinese government. If it requires compensation and damages, etc, we will demand for them.
“ So, for us, it is a red line and we are going to fight it to the very end. We are extremely disappointed because we have excellent relations with government and people of China. We are therefore surprised that such a thing can happen at this stage.
“When there were calls for travels to China to be banned when they had the outbreak in Wuhan, we went along with the World Health Organisation (WHO) advice not to place a ban on China.
“We showed real solidarity because we also had our own experience of epidemics with Ebola and so forth .” We are deeply wounded by what has happened to Nigerians and other Africans in China and of course the government has given us explanations.
”But it is something we never expected and we will pursue to its final conclusion and we would not make any compromises in doing so.”
He stated that the government was aware of some comments that it was not boldly handling the maltreatment of Nigerians in China because of “a lot of economic cooperation from China.”
The minister added: ”I can assure you that we are going to pursue to the very end, irrespective of whatever economic cooperation that we have with China, this matter because in the world of today, we absolutely can’t tolerate and accept any form of racism or discrimination against blacks as the largest black country in the world.
”It behoves on us to be in the front line in defending the dignity of blacks and Africans everywhere in the world.”
On the planned evacuation of the over 2,000 stranded Nigerians abroad, he said that it might take up to another two weeks.
Onyeama however said that with the gesture from Emirate Airlines, stranded Nigerians in UAE will be the first set to be airlifted back to the country.
The minister also denied the report that the government demanded for £350 each from the would -be returnees from United Kingdom.
He said, “In respect of someone in UK who paid £350 two weeks ago, with the hope of been evacuated from UK, I have this to say. First of all, when we made the announcement that we were trying to assess first of all how many Nigerians in various countries that wanted to come home, we pointed out that all communication should be with the High Commission and in no time did the High Commission or did any directive emanate from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that Nigerians should be tested.”
”So, where the £350 for test came from I really don’t know but it’s certain it is not from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs nor from our various embassies and High Commissions. ”
Also at the briefing, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed , said that a petrol attendant in Aba, Abia State was killed by a motorist and not police as claimed.

By Vincent Ikuomola