The Federal Government on Tuesday explained that the Chinese medical team brought into the country has remained in Nigeria despite visa expiration and completion of its job because of the ban on flights.
The restriction order, it would be recalled, was given to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the country.
In Beijing, China, members of the medical team were issued a 30-day visa.
The Minister of Internal Affairs, Rauf Aregbesola, gave the explanation during the briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.
His words: “Indeed 15 Chinese nationals came into Nigeria on the 8th of April. From everything we have heard and said, they were here on the bill of CCECC, a Chinese company working in Nigeria, doing some work for us in several places. And in conjunction with some Nigerian companies, they agreed to support us with efforts to respond to the pandemic.
“At Idu, they participated in retrofitting and equipping the isolation centre there. They equally worked on the dome project that was handled by the NNPC consortium in conjunction with THISDAY. Those are the location in which they came to work.
“Fifteen of them came in on April 8. They came on a 30-day visa issued in Beijing but they are still here.
“They are still here not because they have not completed their job but because there is a restriction on travels in Nigeria occasioned by the COVID-19 protocols.”
