A statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati, quoted the president as making the remark when the Foreign Ministers of Germany and France visited him at the Presidential Villa.
President Jonathan, according to the statement, said he expected that Nigerians would no longer suffer discriminatory checks and stigmatisation abroad now that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has certified the country Ebola-free.
He emphasized that there was no justifiable basis for the stigmatisation of Nigerians since the Ebola was rapidly conatined in the country and never attained epidemic level.
The statement quoted him as telling the French Foreign Minister, Laurent Fabius, and his German counterpart, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, that Nigeria would remain fully vigilant to prevent the re-entry of the virus.
"They praised Nigeria's effort to contain the virus and expressed the desire of France and Germany and the European Union to help other West African countries where the virus still remains active," the statement said.
Nigeria was certified Ebola-free by the WHO on October 20th, after three months since the entry of the virus through the Liberian traveler, Late Patrick Sawyer.
Personally, I feel the whole of West Africa, to be specific, is being stigmatized and discriminated; especially in the United States. Some of the Americans are being so ignorant about the virus and are asking President Obama to stop all flights from Nigeria and other West African countries. They fail to realize that by doing that, students will be deprived to continue their education in the United States, and as of right now it should be Nigerians that should be thinking about that option. I guess the ball has turned and they are the ones facing the terror of the virus. I just hope they are able to contain it quickly and stop the DISCRIMINATION!
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