The leadership of the House of Representatives on Friday condemned the inhuman treatment meted out on some Nigerians by the Chinese authorities in Beijing.
Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, expressed the lawmakers displeasure at a meeting with the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Zhou Pingjian.
Also present at the meeting were the Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu and Deputy Minority Leader, Toby Okechukwu.
Gbajabiamila who confronted the Chinese Ambassador with the video of the Nigerian official challenging Beijing authorities over the unacceptable manner, in which they had treated Nigerians, said such treatment must be addressed immediately.
The video which has gone viral on the internet, showed the apparently displeased Nigerian official berating the Chinese officials who had seized the passports of some Nigerians.
The Nigerian official also accused the Chinese of forcing some Nigerians into another 14-days quarantine after the initial 14 days they had spent over the COVID-19 pandemic in China.
The Speaker stressed there must be an official explanation for treating Nigerians in such a manner.
“If the diplomatic relationships between our two countries are for the mutual benefits of our citizens, then there must be respect for our citizens, and we should not compromise it.
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“As a government, we will not allow Chinese or other nationals to be maltreated just as we will not allow Nigerians to be maltreated in other countries.
“The way you treat your citizens, we expect that’s how you’ll treat others. We will not tolerate our citizens breaking your laws, but the crime of one citizen cannot be used to stigmatize the whole country,” Gbajabiamila insisted.
Responding, the Chinese Ambassador said though he has not been officially informed about the details of the incidence, he would take it up with the home government.
“We take our relationship with Nigeria very seriously. Until we receive a full report from back home, I cannot act, but I can assure you it is not a policy issue.
“We treat everyone equally, but during the implementation of the COVID-19 measures in China, it is possible for some incidents; all I do is to take it back home and today I will,” he said.
The Speaker told the Ambassador to get back to them latest by Tuesday.
