China has committed to refinancing and completing the Abuja-Kano and Port Harcourt-Maiduguri railway projects
President of the Peoples Republic of China, Xi Jinping, made the pledge on Wednesday while responding to requests made by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima at a bilateral meeting with the Chinese leader in Beijing. The VP is in China for the ongoing Belt and Road Initiative Forum (BRI) in Beijing.
Shettima, according to a statement by his spokesman, Stanley Nkwocha, recalled that since the launch of the projects, China had yet to release funds for the two major railway projects in Nigeria largely due to cutbacks and commitments.
China had agreed to provide 85 per cent financing for the construction of the Abuja-Kano and Port-Harcourt-Maiduguri railway projects, while Nigeria which had the duty of paying the balance 15% paid its part of the funding from the inception of the project through appropriations.
The crucial infrastructure also termed a legacy project has the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation as the contractors named to execute the project.
The Chinese president, who pledged increased investment in Nigeria’s power generation and digital economy, called for the protection of Chinese nationals working in Nigeria, saying he would, in turn, ensure that the Nigeria-China bilateral relation is stronger than before.
President Jinping promised that China would enhance political support and build cooperation in all fields, just as he appreciated Nigeria’s support of one China Policy.
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