“I welcome wholeheartedly this great gesture shown by the Chinese to help curb the spread and fatality rate of COVID-19 in Nigeria.

A lot of people have reasons why they do not support what they’ve refered to as “Greek gift”. I raised an opinion poll the other day to ascertain why individuals have refused to throw weight behind the medical offer by the Republic of China… and I can tell you, 90 percent of the naysayers are doing so just by assimilation rising from series of unverified hearsays.

For the records, the Chinese are not in Nigeria to test any vaccine…at least that hasn’t been mentioned as one of the things they came with. From inventory, the Chinese are in Nigeria with test kits and ventilators…no vaccine.

Asking the Chinese to channel their favour to Italy, Spain, or America would be in fulfilment of an age long “the rich gets richer” saying. I mean these countries are great countries that can cater for themselves… you want China to go help a world power like America? No way! You wouldn’t also want to disagree with me that Nigeria is a third world economy… We actually need these helps please.

Nigeria-China relationship isn’t just starting. These two countries have been building and painstakingly putting up solidification attempt in that regard. Greater parts of road infrastructures in our country are made by the Chinese. Recently, China agreed to fund and build $3.9bn railway from Nigeria’s capital to Warri, Delta State. Another recent one is the Nigeria and China’s agreement on a currency-swap worth $2.4 billion to boost commercial ties and reduce the need to use the dollar in bilateral trade of which we all applauded.

There is no sane government that can deliberately invite strangers into it’s territory to harm it’s people. No, it’s practically impossible. At least the 14 days mandatory quarantine period imposed on them can be a testimony to the president’s good intention.

The Chinese are not here to condemn the efforts of our medical practitioners, they’re here in complementation. The Nigerian Medical Association do not have any reason to frown. They should see this as a platform to plaster with strong bond and build up on the relationship foundation already in place.

Everything shouldn’t be competitive; relationship matters a great deal.

I once again welcome the Chinese medics and wish them a nice time in Nigeria.”

Joshua Osung