The Federal Government has condemned the
stigmatisation of Nigerians by South Africa
and 21 other countries over the outbreak of
the deadly Ebola virus disease that was
successfully eradicated recently.
The Federal Government said the eradication
of the virus prompted the World Health
Organisation to declare Nigeria an Ebola-free
country.
The countries that stigmatised Nigerians are:
Bahrain, Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea,
Cameroon, Cuba, Gabon, China, Egypt and
Hong Kong.
Others are Kuwait, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Turkey,
Zambia, Mauritania, São Tomé & Principle,
United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, Namibia,
Seychelles and South Sudan.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Aminu
Wali, who conveyed the federal government’s
disapproval of the stigmatization of
Nigerians at a meeting with members of the
Diplomatic Corps on Friday in Abuja,
cautioned Heads of Mission for making what
he called inflammatory and reckless
statements against the Nigerian government
on matters of domestic policies.
According to him, such act is an
“unacceptable interference in Nigeria’s
domestic affairs”.
Wali said, “It is disappointing and troubling
that in spite of the decisive measures taken
by the Federal Government of Nigeria and
the subsequent positive declaration by WHO,
some countries have regrettably, chosen to
flout the WHO rules on the Ebola virus by
adopting deliberate policies of stigmatisation
and discrimination against Nigerians simply
because we were unfortunately exposed to
the virus.
“I will like to make it categorically clear that
the continued discrimination and profiling of
Nigeria is not acceptable to the government
and people of Nigeria”.
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