As part of the gains of the Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to China, both countries have agreed a $328 million infrastructure deal.
President Buhari had during the weekend traveled to China to take part in the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) holding September 3 – 4, 2018.
According to Itedgenews, President Buhari and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping witnessed the signing of the agreement underscored by a $328 million facility provided by the Chinese EXIM Bank for the provision of National Information and Communication Technology Infrastructure Backbone Phase 11 (NICTIB 11) between Galaxy Backbone Limited of Nigeria and Huawei Technologies Limited (Huawei).
According to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity at the presidency, Mallam Garba Shehu, “The bank facility is for the development of NICTIB 11 project which is consistent with the current administration’s commitment to incorporating the development of ICT into national strategic planning under the National Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).
“President Buhari and his Chinese host will also witness the signing of the MOU on One Belt One Road Initiative (OBOR). It may be recalled that in 2013, the Chinese leader proposed the initiative of building the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road, with a view to integrating the development strategies of partnering countries.
“During the High-Level Dialogue between Chinese and African Leaders and Business representatives on the margins of FOCAC, the Nigerian delegation is also expected to sign no fewer than 25 MOUs, including those proposed by the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), and Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA).” he added.
Top Chinese government officials including the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr Zhou Pingjian were very much on ground to receive the Nigerian President.
According to Shehu, the Nigerian Ambassador to China, Baba Ahmed Jidda and his wife Zahra; the Deputy Chief of Mission, Ambassador Bakori Aliyu Usman; Consular-General of Nigeria, Guangzhou, Shairudeen Oloko; Consular-General of Nigeria, Shanghai, Anderson Madubuike; and Defence Attaché, Brig-Gen. Temitope Ademola were also among those who received the president.
It was also learnt that President Buhari seized the opportunity to meet with Nigerians living in China at the weekend before the kick-off of FOCAC to be attended by President Jinping and other African leaders.
The statement also reads, “the Beijing Summit is expected to adopt the Beijing Declaration and the Action Plan for the development of China-Africa cooperation and fashion out new opportunities to grow Nigeria-China comprehensive strategic partnership from 2019 to 2021.”
