BY DAVID IORJA
Nigeria and China Wednesday in Beijing, signed the agreement of $328million for the Information and Communication Technology Infrastructure Backbone Phase II (NICTIB II) project in Nigeria.
Visiting President Muhammadu Buhari equally won the crucial support of the Chinese President, Xi Jinping, for the Nigeria’s aspiration to build the 3050 Megawatts Mambila hydroelectric power project.
The concessional loan agreement between Galaxy Backbone Limited and Huawei Technologies Limited (HUAWEI) was signed by Nigeria’s Minister of Finance Kemi Adesoun and Wang Xiaotoa, Director-General, International Development Agency, in the presence of President Muhammadu Buhari and President Xi Jinping of China.
Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity), who made this known in a statement, said Nigeria and China also signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the One Belt One Road Initiative (OBOR).
According to the statement, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama and He Lifeng, Director, China’s National Development and Reform Commission signed the OBOR- an initiative of President Xi which focuses on improving connectivity and cooperation among multiple countries spread across the continents of Asia, Africa and Europe.
Earlier during his meeting with President Xi, the Nigerian leader, while commending the Chinese government for successfully hosting the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) solicited support for the Mambilla hydropower project.
Noting that Mambilla project remains a key priority to Nigeria, the President also sought additional Chinese funding for four airport terminal projects as well as the Abuja light rail project.
‘‘Mr President, as we celebrate these successes, I would like to once again solicit your support for the Mambilla Hydropower Project which remains a key priority for my government. Our hope is to fund the project with concessionary loans from China as any alternative funding arrangement will adversely impact the project’s viability.
On Lake Chad Basin, the President thanked China for accepting to support the international efforts to recharge the Lake.
‘‘The inclusion of this project in the FOCAC Action Plan 2019 to 2021 will go a long way in supporting our efforts to rehabilitate and resettle the conflict-impacted North East region,’’ he said.
‘‘I was very pleased to hear about the positive experiences these hard working and law abiding citizens are having in their host communities. I also had the pleasure of meeting young Chinese students learning three Nigerian languages.
‘‘We must continue to support such exchange programmes to enhance our people-to-people contacts,’’ he said.
Similarly, President Buhari noted that easy movement of citizens of both countries would complement the currency swap agreements recently signed by the central banks of both countries.
‘‘Since our last meeting two years ago, Nigeria has relaxed its visa requirements to Chinese citizens. Today, I am pleased to inform Your Excellency that Chinese citizens receive Nigerian visas in less than 48 hours.
He also pledged 50 million Chinese Yuan support to Nigeria’s military, noting that ‘‘Buhari is as decisive in dealing with terrorism as China.’’
Agric
President Xi said China would import more agricultural products from Nigeria and expressed gratitude to President Buhari on Nigeria’s interest to participate in the forthcoming Chinese Import Fair.
