COVID-19: Chinese Ambassador Says It Cost Over $2 million To Bring Chinese Doctors, Equipment, To Nigeria

By Akinwale Kasali

The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria,  Zhou Pingjian, has sensationally revealed it cost both the Nigerian Government and the Civil Engineering Construction  Company, a whopping sum of Two Million US Dollars to bring in 15   Chinese medical personnel and medical equipment to Nigeria.

He said the gesture was to reciprocate the kindness demonstrated by Nigeria to his country and people during their trying times, fighting Covid-19.

Speaking with newsmen after the arrival of the team and medical equipment, the Ambassador acknowledged that the Nigerian government had shown China great solidarity when it struggled with the Coronavirus pandemic.

He said the support coming from the Chinese government and its companies in Nigeria was China’s way of reciprocating.

So far, he  said, it had cost China’s Civil Engineering Construction Company, CCECC, and the Federal Government about two million dollars to bring in the experts and the medical equipment.

The Ambassador said he is shocked, and  at the reaction  of some Nigerians, and  could not understand the rationale behind the attitude of some Nigerians who were against the coming of the experts.

“I am struggling to understand the logic. For us, at the most difficult stage of our fight, we received support from Nigeria.  Now, it is time for us to reciprocate the friendship and the kindness.

“This is the first time I met the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, since early February, and I appreciate the strong support for us from him and the government.

“For the government and Chinese businesses, what we are trying to do is to address the concerns of our dear friends.

“According to the information the CCECCE gave to me, the value of the equipment and medical supplies is around $1.5 million when  the other costs like the flight is added, it is around $2 million,” he said.

He disclosed that the experts were originally billed to stay for one month but noted that the mandatory quarantine may also determine how long they will stay.

The ambassador said the major secret which worked for China, especially in Wuhan, the epicentre of the virus, was the lockdown which broke  the chain of transmission.

“The lockdown in Wuhan lasted 76 days. Since January, Wuhan has been in lockdown. Today is the very first day  the lockdown was lifted.

“One key measure for us to fight the Covid-19 is to try every means to break the chain of transmission,” he said.

It will be recalled that many Nigerians, including the Nigeria Medical Association spoke up against the arrival of the Chinese medical experts to Nigeria.