Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari expressed renewed interest in China's offer and capability to build railway networks in the west African country. (Photo : REUTERS)
Nigeria has expressed growing interest on China’s offer and expertise to help build a world-class railway network in the west African country, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
According to the report, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari made the pronouncement during a town hall meeting with Nigerians living in Ethiopia on Sunday, Jan. 31, where the Nigerian leader said he ordered a review of several railway transport projects signed by the previous administration with the Chinese government.
Buhari remarked that the Chinese government was very generous to Nigeria on the projects as they agreed to pay 85 percent of them. However, the Nigerian government failed to fulfill the 15 percent counterpart funding, so the Chinese government was unable to make any impact on the project.
The report said that the president had directed the Ministers of Transportation, Finance, and Power, Works and Housing, to revisit the agreements and explore ways to approach again the Chinese government for assistance.
A few days ago, Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria Gu Xiaojie met with Nigeria's Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, and the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, in Abuja to exchange views on cooperation in investment and financing areas, the report added.
Remembering the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Nigeria, Guo told the ministers that China is willing to strengthen cooperation in investment and financing areas in order to further promote the development of bilateral relations.
The Chinese envoy added that Nigeria is a major destination of China's investment in Africa as well as a major beneficiary of China's favorable loan in a large scale.
Adeosun, on the other hand, commended China for its longstanding support for Nigeria's economic and social development, especially in infrastructure construction, as he pledge to draw lessons on China's experience.
The minister also extended Nigeria's wish to further enhance cooperation with China in investment and financing to speed up the implementation of existing and planned projects, which will benefit the peoples of the two countries.
Amaechi, for his part, thanked China for supporting Nigeria's economic development and the improvement of people's livelihood, adding that the cooperation has yielded good results, especially in areas like infrastructure and investment.
