Deji Elumoye in Abuja
The federal government has lauded the support of the Chinese government in ensuring that Nigeria’s infrastructural deficits are reversed under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, who spoke yesterday at the State House, Abuja, while playing host to the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, CUI Jianchun and the new Deputy Chief of Mission/Ministerial Councilor, Zhang Yi, declared that when the history of the Buhari Administration’s efforts to reverse Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit is written, the role of China will not be forgotten.
The spokesman, who received the envoy in the company of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, thanked the Chinese government for sustained efforts to improve Nigeria’s infrastructure development in several areas including power, rail, and aviation, among others.
According to him, “President Buhari has very great respect for China. Many times he has spoken about the support from China and he deeply appreciates it. President Buhari and President Xi Jinping share respect and friendship.
‘‘Nigeria appreciates the mutual cooperation with China and we pray that diplomatic relations will continue to be strong and mutually beneficial. President Buhari has visited China twice and also participated in the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) meeting in South Africa.”
Also speaking, Shehu while responding to alleged misrepresentation of One China policy in some section of the Nigerian Media, Shehu, told the Chinese Ambassador: “the things you read in the press (Nigerian) concerning One China Policy are not a representation of the federal government policy on One China policy.
‘‘Nigeria’s Constitution is written in a way that allows freedom of expression in the Media.’’
He stressed that what is important in the Nigeria-China relations is that the Nigerian government recognise and support the One China policy.
Earlier in his speech, the Ambassador explained his 5GOAL NIGERIA-CHINA GDP STRATEGY, pegged around political consonance, economic cooperation, military collaboration, international coordination and people communication.
Jianchun, who has spent 17 months in Nigeria, pledged that China would continue to prioritise investments in railway, road, ports, electricity, ICT, oil and gas, agriculture, mining, among others, across the country.
On the 700MW Zungeru hydroelectric power plant under construction in Niger State, the envoy said his government is deeply committed to its completion and operationalisation soon.
