China endorses Nigeria’s bid for UNSC seat

• May review tax on nation’s agric imports

NIGERIA’S hope for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) got a boost yesterday with an endorsement by the People’s Republic of China.

In a statement yesterday, Turaki Hassan, the Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs to the House of Representatives Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, said that China gave the nod during a meeting between Dogara and the Chinese officials at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, United States.

The endorsement was disclosed by the Speaker of the Chinese Parliament, Zhang Dejiang, after the meeting with Dogara on Sunday. According to the statement, Dogara had pleaded with China to use its position as a permanent member of the UNSC to back Nigeria’s quest for the democratisation of the council.

“We appreciate China for its effort to democratise the institution of the United Nations and appeal that you support our bid to occupy a permanent seat on the Security Council,” Dogara had said.

Responding, Dejiang said there must be a better representation of developing countries in the UN and that Nigeria, being an influential country in the world, deserved a seat on the council. He added: “We support the legitimate demands of Nigeria for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, together with the reform of the UN.”

Nigeria, alongside other developing countries like Brazil and India, has been campaigning for the expansion of the UNSC.

Meanwhile, a parliamentary friendship group between Nigeria’s National Assembly and the Chinese Parliament would be established soon, and both speakers have approved the proposal for the creation of such group in the coming months.

Dogara had also appealed to the Chinese Government to review its five per cent tax on Nigeria’s agricultural imports. According to him, Dejiang promised to forward the request to the appropriate authorities for necessary action.

The meeting was held at the instance of the Chinese delegates, who also promised to attract Chinese investors to Nigeria. They equally pledged to support Nigeria’s fight against terrorism, describing it as a global scourge.