On Saturday, President Buhari arrived Beijing to attend the Beijing
Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) holding
September 3 – 4, 2018.
During the 6-day official visit of the Nigerian President, he is
expected to join his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping to witness the
signing of an agreement on the National Information and Communication
Technology Infrastructure Backbone Phase 11 (NICTIB 11) between Galaxy
Backbone Limited and Huawei Technologies Limited (HUAWEI) at the cost of
US $328 million facility provided by the Chinese EXIM Bank.
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.
Nigeria and China to sign $328 Million agreement on ICT as President Buhari arrives Beijing
On Saturday, President Buhari arrived Beijing to attend the Beijing
Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) holding
September 3 – 4, 2018.
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).
Earlier, the President on arrival at Capital International Airport,
Beijing at about 9:04 am (Nigerian time), was received by top Chinese
government officials including the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr
Zhou Pingjian.
Nigeria’s 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.
President Buhari will tomorrow meet Nigerians living in China before
the kick-off of FOCAC on Monday when he will join President Jinping and
other African leaders for roundtable sessions which will essentially
discuss the report of FOCAC since the 2015 Johannesburg Summit,
including the implementation of the ‘‘ten cooperation plans’’ adopted at
the last meeting.
The Summit is also 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.