Coronavirus: “Don’t Wear Face Masks Imported From China, Use Aba Made”

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide has warned people from south east against the use of face masks imported from China or submit themselves to be treated by Chinese doctors.

In a statement signed by its President-General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, on Tuesday, Ohanaeze said Ndigbo should instead, wear the face masks made in Aba, Abia State.

The OYC claimed that face mask brought into the country by Chinese doctors, “who are showing desperation to come to Nigeria amidst speculations about their sincere intentions with one million face masks is very suspicious.”

The Igbo group queried the acceptance of one million face masks, adding that “uncertified sources had raised doubts that such personal preventive equipment may be second hand and capable of infesting Nigerians with Coronavirus, which Chinese doctors might want to exploit to ruin our economy and enslave Nigerians.”

It added that irrespective of the claim that China has contained the spread of Coronavirus in their country, “the desperate attempt to bring in these Chinese doctors against all odds shows that there’s more to it, when Aba artisans can produce 1m face masks in one week.”

OYC added that it “recommends the made in Aba face masks to Ndigbo and Nigerians, as we can verify the source of production and guarantee the safety of the face masks.

Ohanaeze urged the Federal Government to ban any face mask imported from China at this crucial moment, adding that “We cannot experiment PPE imported from China with the lives of innocent Nigerians.”

The group called Igbo and Nigerians in general to “reject any item from these insincere Chinese doctors, they shouldn’t be trusted.

“Some Government officials are showing desperation over the invitation of Chinese doctors, when NMA and other sister organisations had reportedly rejected this move,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, the move by the Federal Government to bring Chinese medical experts to help it check the coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria has been criticized by local stakeholders.