FG: China will fund Abuja-Kano, P’Harcourt-Maiduguri railway projects

Xi Jinping, Chinese president, has pledged commitment to refinancing and completing the Abuja-Kano and Port Harcourt-Maiduguri railway projects.

Stanley Nkwocha, senior special assistant to the president on media, said this in a statement on Wednesday.

According to Nkwocha, Xi Jinping made the pledge while responding to requests made by President Bola Tinubu during a bilateral meeting with the Chinese leader in Beijing.

“It would be recalled that since the launch of the projects, China is yet to release funds for the two major railway projects in Nigeria largely due to cutbacks and commitments,” Nkwocha said.

“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 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.”

According to Nkwocha, the Chinese President also pledged increased investment in Nigeria’s power generation and digital economy while also asking for the protection of Chinese nationals working in Nigeria.

“President Jinping promised that China will enhance political support and build cooperations in all fields, just as he appreciated Nigeria’s support of one China Policy,” the statement reads.

“Pledging to further deepen practical cooperations, the Chinese leader threw his weight of support behind the Renewed Hope Manifesto of President Bola Tinubu and his 8-point economic agenda adding that China will support Nigeria’s exports, especially as it relates to peanuts and others, even as the China – Africa talent initiative remains key in its cooperation with Nigeria.”

In the area of security, the statement said President Jinping promised a continued crackdown on terrorists, assuring that China is committed to peace in the Sahel region, more so that its long-standing military training and memorandum of understandings (MoUs) on joint exercises remain sacrosanct.