The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama said the harassment of Nigerians and other Africans in China appear to be happening with the support of the Chinese government.
He stated this on Friday while addressing the media about reports of disturbing treatment being meted out to blacks in the Asian nation.
The minister said he has had to summon the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr Zhou Pingjian, twice in one week to register Nigeria’s displeasure with the maltreatment of Nigerians in China.
Onyeama noted that Nigeria has begun the process of evacuating affected citizens following new reports of a new wave of attacks on blacks in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province of China.
At least 100 Nigerians are believed to have been evicted from their homes and hotels in Guangzhou by Chinese officials.
Onyeama said there would be compensation for such persons.
The minister stated that the Nigerian Ambassador to China, Ahmed Jidda, as well as other African ambassadors in China had met with the Chinese Foreign Ministry and expressed their concerns. He said they made a number of demands from the Chinese Government, including respecting the rights and dignity of Africans and Nigerians in Guangdong.
He explained that Chinese authorities have committed to addressing the concerns of the ambassadors to ensure no maltreatment of blacks in the country.
“After we had made a statement in the media, I have continued to receive information from Nigerians in China and I engaged directly with our officials in Guangzhou and people who were on the ground.
“And I must say that contrary to what we believed, that the situation had stabilised and was fully under control and there were no longer issues, it became apparent that there were still very distressing incidences and that it was almost as if it was an institutional attack on the rights and dignity of Nigerians and Africans there.
“So , as I said , with confirmation from people who were there , I again , invited today ( Friday ) , the Chinese Ambassador and presented these facts to him . I said ‘look , contrary to what was agreed , promises made and guarantees given, the situation does not seem to have ameliorated and this is totally unacceptable .’
“That we have stories of Nigerians who had been evicted from their residences and were unable to get back in; that they had been moved from where they were into more expensive hotels and Nigerians not being served when they went to restaurants and shopping malls . I told him this was totally unacceptable and something needed to be done,” Onyeama said.
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