The Tinubu Media Support Group (TMSG) is excited that President Bola Tinubu’s recent trip to China fetched bunch of goodies and hope for Nigerians across several sectors of the economy.
This, according to the group is because of the rash of pro-development agreements the President and his team sealed as part of steps to solidify Nigeria’s long-standing relations with China.
It said in a statement signed by its Chairman Emeka Nwankpa and Secretary Dapo Okubanjo that it was a further affirmation of President Tinubu’s reputation as an international salesman.
“From Saudi Arabia to India and Germany and now to China, President Tinubu has always left no doubt about his readiness to seek economic cooperation, boost the country’s international profile as well as attract Foreign Direct investments (FDIs).
“This was exactly what the President did on the sidelines of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation summit where he and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping oversaw the signing of 5 Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) including a cooperation plan to jointly promote the Belt and Road initiative (BRI) and another one on peaceful application of nuclear energy.
“The other agreements involve strengthening cooperation on human resource development under the Global Development Initiative (GDI) as well as media exchange and cooperation and a MoU between China Media Group and the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).
“A cursory look at all the agreements show that they are all developmental in nature with just one of them, the Belt and Road Initiative, having as many as 19 projects requiring the cooperation of China and Nigeria.
“The visit provided a vast opportunity for President Tinubu to make what was clearly a sales pitch during which he gave his Chinese hosts an insight into his antecedents in government and why he should be trusted to replicate same at the centre.
“This was also the thrust of the message to key Chinese CEOs when the President visited notable companies like Huawei Technologies and China Rail and Construction Corporation (CRCC),”it added.
The group also provided specific insight into some of the agreements the Nigerian team sealed in China on infrastructure.
TMSG said: “We were not surprised that President Tinubu made a commitment to completing the Ibadan-Abuja-Kaduna-Kano railway project while acknowledging the role played by CRCC in expanding and modernizing Nigeria’s rail network.
“The Federal government also played some role in the pact which the Lagos State government signed with a Chinese firm on the third rail artery in the nation’s commercial hub-The Green line, a 65-km rail line that will run from the Lekki Free Trade Zone to Marina.
“At Huawei, a deal was sealed for the launch of DigiTruck, a mobile ICT classroom aimed at enhancing digital literacy in underserved Nigerian communities. We understand that the Chinese firm plans to operate the initiative in 10 states while training at least 3,000 students annually.
“This, for us, is a quantum addition to ongoing efforts by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy to train 3 million technical talents (3MTT).
“Let us add that the Huawei management used the meeting with the President to announce plans to establish a joint PV test lab with the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) with a view to advancing the country’s digital and low-carbon development goals.
“Huawei also signed an agreement with the Kaduna State government to implement a Smart City urban data connectivity project in Kaduna.
“Still on infrastructure, the Tinubu administration signed a deal with Mutual Commitment Company Limited to set up a training and testing centre for renewable energy to enhance the sector and contribute to the country’s broader energy goal.
“It will also involve setting up an electric tricycle assembly plant in addition to the ongoing 12 megawatts and 3 megawatts power plants in Maiduguri and Kaduna, respectively.
“In addition to this is the pact between China and Nigeria on financial intelligence and cooperation which will see both countries cooperating on flexible and diverse regional monetary and fiscal initiatives, including local currency swaps, to promote trade.
“All these, in our view, would inject fresh momentum into the relationship in line with what the Chinese President Xi Jinping described as enhanced strategic partnership between the two countries.
“It also tallies with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu which is not only targeted at boosting infrastructural development but also raising human capital development in the country.”
The group is convinced that the success of President Tinubu’s visit to China will resonate in the land in due course for the benefit of all Nigerians.
