Coronavirus: Anxiety in Nigeria over returning Chinese

BY OUR EDITOR

The air is thick with apprehension as Nigerians anticipate the massive return of Chinese nationals who had travelled back home for the annual Lunar New Year festival.

The anxiety stems from the fear of Coronavirus which is currently devastating the south east Asia, especially the China Mainland.

Already the social media is agog with fears that the virus might be exported into Nigeria by Chinese resident in Nigeria but currently holidaying in China.

A particular chat which has gone viral reads: “Hundreds of Chinese left Nigeria for China to celebrate their annual festival –Lunar New Year– to return next week. 

At the moment over 300,000 Chinese are already infected with coronavirus. 

The Nigerian FG should take serious precautions and preventive measures before we have an epidemic in Nigeria. 

Coronavirus in Nigeria will be devastating catastrophe.

Please circulate this until someone high in authority takes urgent action ASAP!

It is not clear the exact population of Chinese resident in Nigeria, but estimates are given between 40,000-100,000. Lagos, Abuja and Kano are said to accommodate majority of the Chinese.

READ: Coronavirus: China quarantines Wuhan

The Coronavirus outbreak began in Wuhan, the capital of China’s central province of Hubei and has spread to more than 9800 people globally.

So far, no fewer than 213 people have been reported dead from the virus.

There are 129 confirmed cases in 22 countries and regions outside mainland China, including Australia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand and the United States.

No deaths have been reported outside China.

The World Health Organisation declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government said Thursday it had reached an agreement with the China Embassy in Nigeria to quarantine all Chinese returning to Lagos from their country to prevent the outbreak of Coronavirus.

The state Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, told journalists that the Chinese government, through her embassy in Nigeria was working with the state government to prevent the entry of Coronavirus into the state.

“We are very happy with the cooperation we are receiving from the Chinese government. We’ve had a very serious and high-level discussion with the Chinese government through their embassy in Lagos.

“Our primary concern has been the return of their citizens to Lagos in a few days and we are happy to inform you that the Embassy of China is also concerned about this, and they have sent out information through notifications to their citizens and companies located in Lagos that their citizens should try and remain in China until there is clarity about how this infection is going.

“However, if some of them choose to return, and we cannot restrict people, if they do return to Lagos, the instruction from the Chinese Embassy is that they should be quarantined for a period of 10 to 14 days in their houses, hostels and accommodations,” Abayomi elaborated.