Nigeria, China to sign $328 million agreement on ICT

President Muhammadu Buhari arrived Beijing Saturday to attend
the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC)
holding September 3 – 4, 2018.

During the 6-day official visit of the Nigerian President, he is
expected to join his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping to witness the
signing of an agreement on the National Information and
Communication Technology Infrastructure Backbone Phase 11 (NICTIB
11) between Galaxy Backbone Limited and Huawei Technologies Limited
(HUAWEI) at the cost of US $328 million facility provided by the
Chinese EXIM Bank.

The bank facility is for the development of NICTIB 11 project
which is consistent with the current administration’s commitment to
incorporating the development of ICT into national strategic
planning under the National Economic Recovery and Growth Plan
(ERGP).

President Buhari and his Chinese host will also witness the
signing of the MOU on One Belt One Road Initiative (OBOR).

In 2013, the Chinese leader proposed the initiative of building
the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk
Road, with a view to integrating the development strategies of
partnering countries.

During the High-Level Dialogue between Chinese and African
Leaders and Business representatives on the margins of FOCAC, the
Nigerian delegation is also expected to sign no fewer than 25 MOUs,
including those proposed by the Nigerian Investment Promotion
Commission (NIPC), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC),
and Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines
and Agriculture (NACCIMA).

Earlier, the president on arrival at Capital International
Airport, Beijing at about 9:04 am (Nigerian time), was received by
top Chinese government officials including the Chinese Ambassador
to Nigeria, Zhou Pingjian.

President Buahari in handshake with
Mister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi and Godswill Akpabio

Nigeria’s Ambassador to China, Baba Ahmed Jidda and his wife
Zahra; the Deputy Chief of Mission, Ambassador Bakori Aliyu Usman;
Consular-General of Nigeria, Guangzhou, Shairudeen Oloko;
Consular-General of Nigeria, Shanghai, Anderson Madubuike; and
Defence Attaché, Temitope Ademola, were also among those who
received the president.

President Buhari will tomorrow meet Nigerians living in China
before the kick-off of FOCAC on Monday when he will join President
Jinping and other African leaders for roundtable sessions which
will essentially discuss the report of FOCAC since the 2015
Johannesburg Summit, including the implementation of the ‘‘ten
cooperation plans’’ adopted at the last meeting.

The Summit is also expected to adopt the Beijing Declaration and
the Action Plan for the development of China-Africa cooperation and
fashion out new opportunities to grow Nigeria-China comprehensive
strategic partnership from 2019 to 2021.

Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
September 1, 2018

President Muhammadu Buhari arrived Beijing Saturday to attend
the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC)
holding September 3 – 4, 2018.

During the 6-day official visit of the Nigerian President, he is
expected to join his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping to witness the
signing of an agreement on the National Information and
Communication Technology Infrastructure Backbone Phase 11 (NICTIB
11) between Galaxy Backbone Limited and Huawei Technologies Limited
(HUAWEI) at the cost of US $328 million facility provided by the
Chinese EXIM Bank.

The bank facility is for the development of NICTIB 11 project
which is consistent with the current administration’s commitment to
incorporating the development of ICT into national strategic
planning under the National Economic Recovery and Growth Plan
(ERGP).

President Buhari and his Chinese host will also witness the
signing of the MOU on One Belt One Road Initiative (OBOR).

In 2013, the Chinese leader proposed the initiative of building
the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk
Road, with a view to integrating the development strategies of
partnering countries.

During the High-Level Dialogue between Chinese and African
Leaders and Business representatives on the margins of FOCAC, the
Nigerian delegation is also expected to sign no fewer than 25 MOUs,
including those proposed by the Nigerian Investment Promotion
Commission (NIPC), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC),
and Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines
and Agriculture (NACCIMA).

Earlier, the president on arrival at Capital International
Airport, Beijing at about 9:04 am (Nigerian time), was received by
top Chinese government officials including the Chinese Ambassador
to Nigeria, Zhou Pingjian.

President Buahari in handshake with
Mister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi and Godswill Akpabio

Nigeria’s Ambassador to China, Baba Ahmed Jidda and his wife
Zahra; the Deputy Chief of Mission, Ambassador Bakori Aliyu Usman;
Consular-General of Nigeria, Guangzhou, Shairudeen Oloko;
Consular-General of Nigeria, Shanghai, Anderson Madubuike; and
Defence Attaché, Temitope Ademola, were also among those who
received the president.

President Buhari will tomorrow meet Nigerians living in China
before the kick-off of FOCAC on Monday when he will join President
Jinping and other African leaders for roundtable sessions which
will essentially discuss the report of FOCAC since the 2015
Johannesburg Summit, including the implementation of the ‘‘ten
cooperation plans’’ adopted at the last meeting.

The Summit is also expected to adopt the Beijing Declaration and
the Action Plan for the development of China-Africa cooperation and
fashion out new opportunities to grow Nigeria-China comprehensive
strategic partnership from 2019 to 2021.

Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
September 1, 2018