Tinubu woos Chinese investors, says Africa holds opportunities for growth
• APC chief, Ayom, praises renewed economic ties with China
• Tasks President on $1.2b mining equipment deal of 2016
Africa holds vast opportunities for investment, growth and development with its vibrant population, productive economy and natural resources, President Bola Tinubu has said.
This was as former presidential aspirant under the All Progressives Congress (APC), Moses Ayom, commended Tinubu’s initiative to improve Nigeria’s economic partnership with China.
Speaking at a bilateral meeting, yesterday, in Beijing, China, with Chinese Premier, Li Qiang, Tinubu commended the role of the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in advancing partnership between Africa and China for mutual development and prosperity.
“The African spirit for FOCAC is based on mutual respect and partnership that promotes development, happiness, peace and stability for our people. We are on this journey together. We believe that we share common interests, which are investments and development.
“For me, as a Nigerian and as Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), I am happy that the strategic partnership being promoted is acceptable to both sides and this is the way to go,” Tinubu said.
The President also called for a strategic focus on areas of collaboration that will ensure the relationship remains mutually beneficial.
“Africa is a huge opportunity for economic development. As great people, we are willing to partner for progress and development. What is most important will be the focus of FOCAC in areas on which we can collaborate to make the relationship mutually beneficial to all of us,” he added.
Tinubu, who is in Beijing for the ninth FOCAC, expressed appreciation for the warm reception extended to him and his delegation by the Chinese government.
On his part, the Premier expressed his country’s readiness to work with Nigeria to deliver on the mutual understanding reached by Presidents Xi Jinping and Tinubu under the recently established comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.
AYOM, an international businessman with a special interest in strengthening Nigeria’s relations with China, said the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on Tuesday in Beijing, on the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and other agreements to elevate the existing relationship between the two countries opened a positive chapter in Nigeria’s economy.
Tinubu and his Chinese counterpart witnessed the signing in Beijing where they committed to advance economic development in the two countries.
The presidential aspirant, who said he had played vital roles in Nigeria’s partnership with China, including being part of the 2016 Presidential delegation to China, called on Tinubu to urgently activate the $1.2 billion mining equipment deal signed between Nigeria and China that year to boost the partnership.
According to him, a delay in activating that deal portends a serious economic danger capable of causing the economy N500 billion in losses, citing the audit by Certified Accountants.
It has become imperative, he said, for Nigeria to activate the existing MoU with China to show her that Nigeria is always committed to honouring her international deals.
The mining deal has the potential of reinvigorating Nigeria’s economy, particularly in terms of employment.
He explained: “The issue is the delay and failure in activating the $1.2 billion mining equipment deal signed by my company, Granite and Marble, for the establishment of mining equipment firm in Abuja. It is part of the MoU signed between President Muhammadu Buhari and the Chinese government in 2016.
The deal was struck the same day as the $6 billion currency swap deal between Nigeria and China.
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