The Chinese Government on Tuesday delivered a China-aid Nigeria Agricultural Demonstration Centre project to the Nigeria worth RMB 44,100,000 (about N2.8 billion) to assist the Federal Government in its sustained efforts to improve the agricultural sector’s contribution to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Speaking during the handover of the facility to the Nigerian government, the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Cui Jianchun, said that the demonstration centre would not only provide opportunities to farmers, government officials but also deepen and broaden the two countries’ relationship.
The Envoy said: “The Chinese government is handing over this project to support Nigeria to develop a more modernized agricultural sector because our people believe that a technology driven agriculture industry really means a lot.
“Nigeria has great potential for agricultural development and there is a need for machines, technology among others to achieve it.
“We believe in this country and the project is very important not only for Nigeria but for the whole African continent”, the Ambassador added.
Jianchun explained that the Chinese government was interested in Nigeria’s security, electricity, agriculture and food security among other critical areas and would continue to aid the Nigerian government to in its various initiatives in the areas.
He further disclosed that China’s biggest interest here in Nigeria is first security and that was why the Chinese government is working with Nigerian military sectors and law enforcement to see the ways it can help to improve the current situation.
The Ambassador further expatiated: “We’ve also done a lot in electricity and now we are moving to the agricultural sector.
“Last July I presented my strategy, called the Nigeria-China 5g GDP strategy and today I am proud to share with you the 5g; political and economic cooperation, military and security collaboration, international affairs coordination and people to people communication.
“We have achieved a lot in the infrastructure, ICT, industry, investment and import export from the Ogun State and Lagos foreign trade zone and Edo state we have a lot of industrial parks and first trade zone there.
“After my visit to those states, I found out that we are blooming and boosting this industry in Nigeria, we have delivered a tangible result to the people of Nigeria and also deepened and broadened the cooperation between the two countries”, he added.
Speaking on his country’s achievements in poverty eradication and building a moderately prosperous society, Jianchun said that the Chinese government had “lifted more than 700 million people out of poverty in China”
Noting that with Nigeria having 200 million population with over 100 million living below the poverty line, the Envoy said that the poverty level in Nigeria remained a major concern, hence the Chinese government’s commitment to poverty alleviation in the country.
He said that he was “confident that Nigeria-China can build a strong, prosperous country in the coming 20 years and this is not only about lip service neither is it about slogans as long as two great nations work together from the agriculture sectors to industry.”
In his remarks at the event, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Hon. Mustapha Shehuri, commended the Chinese government for its support to Nigeria in agricultural sector, noting that China and Nigeria share a long standing friendship.
Represented by the ministry’s Director of Rural Development, Engr. Udo Daniels, the minister said: “In these hard times it is rare to receive this huge donation and I want to appreciate our friendship with China which has led to the witnessing of rapid and remarkable achievement among the two countries in the areas of bilateral cooperation.
“Nigeria is noted to be a large and leading agricultural economy therefore it has a pressing need for agricultural technology and development Centers.
“This project has provided and transfer advance technology to Nigeria. It is important to note that the Center will be fully integrated with local agricultural production to enable agricultural technicians adopt faster”, Shehuri added.
