The China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) says the doctors who came into the country on April 8 are stranded in the country as a result of non availability of commercial flights to China.
The Managing Director of the company, Michael Jiang Yigao , made this known on Monday.
“Right now, commercial flights to China are not open yet, but when the flights are open again, we are considering the team going back to China,” PUNCH quoted Yigao as saying.
The 15-man team, which include experts in infectious diseases, respiratory illness, intensive care, cardiology, neurology, general surgery, anesthesiology and a journalist, had come to the country on the invitation of the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation.
The Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, had said during a briefing by Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 that he did not know the whereabouts of the Chinese visitors, stressing that they were not guests of the Federal Government but that of the construction company.
But shedding light on the situation, Liao stated that the personnel were supposed to spend one month in the country, adding that they were issued three-month visas.
He said, “They (Chinese medical team) are waiting for their flight and this depends on when the airspace would be opened. You know, they came by a charter flight because of the personal protective equipment and other medical materials they brought, but they can’t go back by charter flight, so they are waiting for regular commercial flights.
“They are still here (in Abuja) and they would still assist the Ministry of Health anytime they require their assistance.”
