Nigerian President says reforms will lead to economic growth
By Babagana Jidda
kanempress
6 September 2024
Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu says his administration remained committed to sustainable growth through the effective implementation of ongoing economic reforms.
President Tinubu made the remark at a meeting with Chinese President, Xi Jinping, in Beijing, China.
“We believe that President Xi has demonstrably reformed the Chinese economy, and our reform programme in Nigeria is on a similar course. I am a reformer with verifiable antecedents,” President Tinubu stated.
“We have recognised the need to reform our economy; we are doing so diligently across tax and tariff reviews, and to other segments of our nation’s economy,” the Nigerian leader asserted.
“Trading and investment partners will have easy access to bring in their investments and seamlessly take their resources out,” President Tinubu noted.
At the meeting, Nigeria and China signed a Memoranda of Understanding to strengthen the partnership between them.
Presidents Tinubu and Jinping watched as Minister of Budget and National Planning Atiku Badugu signed on behalf of Nigeria while Chairman, China National Development and Reform Commission, Mr. Zhang Shanjie signed for his country.
Jinping noted the strong mutual understanding between Nigeria and China since the establishment of diplomatic ties over the past 50 years.
“We have found the path of seeking collective strength, through unity, and win-win cooperation.
“China and Nigeria, as major developing countries, strengthening strategic coordination, will inject fresh impetus to China-Africa relations in the new era and spearhead common progress among Global South countries,” Jinping said.
According to the Chinese leader, the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit, scheduled to hold between Wednesday and Friday, provides an opportunity to reflect on mutual friendships and advance the consolidation of China-Africa relations.
He pledged that China and Nigeria would continue to work closely within the FOCAC framework as a model of cooperation between nations.
President Tinubu will speak in his capacity as Chairman of Authority of Heads of States on behalf of the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS).
President Tinubu had on Tuesday given assurances that the Ibadan-Abuja-Kaduna-Kano railway project would be completed to the satisfaction of Nigeria and West Africa at large.
President Tinubu said this while on a visit to the headquarters of China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) in Beijing.
“It is equally very important that we give assurances to the Nigerian people across our local communities that the Ibadan-Abuja-Kaduna-Kano railway segments will be completed and done to the satisfaction of Nigeria and West Africa at large,” he said.
“We will support your investment in solid minerals and other ventures in Nigeria. I am here to assure you that Nigeria is ready to do business with you,” the President assured Mr Dai Hegen, the Chairman of CRCC.
“The Abuja-Kaduna Railway and Lagos-Ibadan Railway have transported approximately nine million passengers and 180 tonnes of cargo. The Lagos blue line has transported over 1.6 million passengers,” Hegen said.
Similarly, President Tinubu visited Huawei Technologies’ Beijing Research Centre, where the company announced the launch of DigiTruck, a mobile ICT classroom, aimed at enhancing digital literacy in underserved Nigerian communities.
During the President Tinubu’s meeting with Huawei’s leadership, led by Mr Liang Hua, Chairman of the Board of Directors, the company said the initiative would operate in 10 states annually, training at least 3,000 students each year.
He acknowledged the ongoing efforts by Nigeria’s Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy to train three million technical talents (3MTT).
Hua said the 3MTT programme was targeted at equipping the country’s young population with the skills necessary for present and future economic opportunities.
Hua lauded President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for identifying digital technology as a critical driver of economic growth.
He said Huawei was prepared to offer its ICT expertise and partner the Nigerian government to support the country in achieving its policy objectives and further its digital, intelligent, and low-carbon development.
, Chief Executive Officer of Huawei Nigeria, Mr Chris Lu
expressed support for Nigeria’s National Talent Export Programme (NATEP), an initiative that seeks to position Nigeria as a hub for talent outsourcing in Africa.
“We hope to continuously develop the NOC and expand its capacity so that it can meet the requirements of more African markets, thus facilitating more Nigerian technology talents in serving more overseas’ markets and helping to achieve the goal of NATEP,” Lu said.
