AKSG seeks pact with China on economic development

Akwa Ibom State Government has called for collaboration with the Peoples Republic of China in key areas of the state economy to create job opportunities for the people.

The governor, Udom Emmanuel, made this call, while playing host to the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Cui Jianchun, at the Government House, Uyo.

The governor acknowledged the Nigeria-China bilateral relations over the years, stressing that areas such as education, agriculture, and basic infrastructure, should be given a boost for the development of the state.

He emphasised the need to collaborate with China in areas peculiar to the needs of the state, noting that the partnership in education and agricultural sector would build concrete foundation for investment in the area of nuclear technology in the future.

“We have not reached the level of nuclear power yet. We are still at the basic level.

“If you want us to draw collaboration, let us first feed our people through agriculture, which I know you have done a whole lot.”

“Let’s start from agriculture, from the basic social services; let’s first of all build basic infrastructure and boost education before we get to an advanced stage, where our people will have a clearer understanding of ingredients and what could be the challenges, the benefits and, probably, the environmental impact of what nuclear technology will do.

“Those magical touch you have introduced into your economy, specifically, your domestic economy can be done here. We also have the population, because what created the advantage initially for China is the population. With that, you created a major domestic economy where consumption was matched with needs.

“It will be in history that during your time as the 14th Ambassador, you created that synergy and cooperation between what we have in Akwa Ibom and what you can also offer in terms of technology transfer,” the governor said.