The House of Representatives, has on Tuesday, set up an investigation into the alleged disappearance of the Medical Team of Chinese Nationals in Nigeria, who were brought into the country in April, by the Federal government.
The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, had on the 14th of May, told Journalists that the Ministry was not aware of the whereabouts of the Chinese Medical team.
The House however, mandated the probe of the whereabouts of the team, on Tuesday, after considering a motion brought on the floor by Rep. Dachung Bagos (PDP-Plateau).
The Sponsor of the Motion recalled that on the 3rd of April, 2020, the Federal Government announced that a 15-member team of Medical Personnel, comprising of Doctors, Nurses, and other Medical Advisers, arrived the country, along with a plane-load of additional Personal Protective Equipment, PPE.
On the 8th of April, 2020, a 15- member team of Chinese Medical Personnel arrived in the country, to share their experiences in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic, and were received at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, by some government Officials, including the Minister of Health.
“Also, that the decision to bring in Chinese Medical Personnel into the country, to help the fight against Covid-19 by Federal Government, sparked a lot of controversies from some Nigerians, who kicked against the decision, saying that, the country has enough Doctors and Nurses, who are supposed to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic.”
He said that he was further aware that in response to the controversies, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, convened a meeting between the Leadership of the House and Minister of Health, on 7th April, 2020. The Hon. Speaker insisted that the Medical Team must undergo the necessary checks as provided by the NCDC, and also go on 14 days isolation, before any interface with Nigerians, adding that, however, “on arrival of the supposedly 15-member Chinese team Medical personnel on the 8th of April, 2020, the Minister of Health in a Press statement, while welcoming them, told Nigerians that; first of all, what the Chinese Doctors will be doing Nigeria, is capacity building to add to the body of knowledge of Nigerian Doctors and Experts have, because there is no Expert who thinks he knows everything, every Expert will tell you that there is more to know, and there is more to learn, especially if you are hearing from those who have had past experience about it”, as he quoted the Minister as saying that, “the visit of this team is going to be very helpful to us, and I am sure the most curious of all persons should be our own Scientists, who are having many questions, and even these ladies and gentlemen are already in quarantine. I have requested that they will be able to connect with our Scientists and Doctors via teleconferencing, so we can start early to be able to ask questions and hear their narratives”.
The House adopted the motion in its entirety, mandating the Minister of Health to give a detailed full status report of activities of the supposed Chinese Medical Team to the Speaker, as agreed during their meeting of 7th April, 2020.
The House also mandated its Committees on Health Services, Interior, National Security and Intelligence and Foreign Affairs, to investigate the reports of the Chinese Medical Team, their whereabouts, and who they really are.
