The Chinese Consul General in Nigeria, Ms. Yan Yuqing, has assured the Niger Delta Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NDCCITMA) of the readiness of the Chinese government to support the group’s drive for investments in Nigeria’s Niger Delta.
CG Yan gave the assurance in her office, the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Lagos, when the group paid her an official visit on Friday.
The visit led by Dr. Solomon Edebiri, Secretary of the Chambers, was to sensitize and solicit the partnership of the Consulate and Chinese investors in the planned economic and investment summit of NDCCITMA slated for May 18-21.
To the request, Yan assured the team that her office knows the prime place of the Niger Delta that cuts across three southern Nigeria geopolitical zones in the economy of the country, being the oil-bearing region and straddling nine states.
She expressed her approval that the region has started seeing its economic potential beyond just oil and gas to other areas. The top diplomat reasoned that since China has played the most important foreign economic role in Nigeria in its 55 years of diplomatic ties, there is no stopping the roll.
Yan reminded the Niger Delta team that in the past 15 years, China has played a most prominent role in the infrastructure upgrade of Nigeria as the largest Chinese infrastructure contracting market in Africa, helping in many ways to build the base for more modern economic possibilities for the country.
This was in response to Edebiri’s explanation that Chinese investors would be needed to bring their businesses to the region, especially in railways, aviation, roads, maritime and ICT hubs.
She recalled that in diverse ways, Chinese partnerships with Nigeria have made possible the building of railways, airports, seaports, roads, and more through the major contractor firms that operate in Nigeria. She assured that the drive will get formidable support from her office and the government of her country.
“I will be present at the summit, and I assure you that I will come with Chinese companies and investors already operating in Nigeria, and in your future summits, we will make plans early enough to solicit Chinese companies in China to come to Nigeria to discuss business with your people.
I can only ask that you assist in talking to the Nigerian Immigration to make it easier for the Chinese to secure Nigerian visas.
Nigeria has been a huge trading partner of China, one of the top three in Africa, and it is the wish and policy of China, through President Xi Jinping’s latest zero-tariffs regime since May 1, on all African commodities imported into China, to grow the continent’s economy. This includes Nigeria, a major economic force on the continent.
The policy is intended to bridge the trade imbalance gap by encouraging African countries, especially Nigeria, to produce more and trade with China at no tariff charges. It is President Xi’s deliberate policy to encourage economic growth in Nigeria and the entire continent, and I am happy that your planned summit looks like what will take advantage of that new encouraging rule to make China-Nigeria economic relations stronger, better, and more balanced.”
During his address to Yan, the team leader, Edebiri appreciated her acceptance to be present at the event next month, and not just that, but also to further ask for the partnership of Chinese investors in the region, and to showcase their goods and services at the trade and investment expo.
Edebiri listed agriculture and agro-technology, tourism, blue economy, ICT, skills development, infrastructure, manufacturing, education, science parks, etc., as the areas the Niger Delta has potential for profitable investments.
He also itemised: integrated infrastructure development; industrialisation and value addition; energy transition and sustainability; technology transfer and skills development; investment facilitation and business linkages; and the Niger Delta science park as key areas of focus in the collaboration sought.
“To operationalise these priorities, we respectfully propose the establishment of a formal cooperation framework, including a Niger Delta-China Economic Development Desk, periodic bilateral investment forums, and coordinated trade missions. These mechanisms would ensure continuity, measurable outcomes, and alignment with both national and regional development strategies.”
He further assured the chief diplomat that the region is doing its best to entrench security and safety through the nine state governors, for investments and investors, and urged her to have confidence in the system as facilitating the right business environment for any people willing to express interest in the region.
He noted that in the past year, the Chambers has extended empowerment to over 4,000 low-income and rural people, a direct way of tackling poverty, which on its own breeds insecurity.
In the drive of NDCCITMA to revamp the Niger Delta economy, Edebiri assured that no sector is less important, and it is willing to accept and work with the Chinese Consulate and investors who show interest.
Edebiri appreciated the Consul General for her frank discussions and assurances, and promised that the hosts of the summit would do their best to make the maiden outing a success and earn the trust of foreign partners for growth.
The NDCCITMA team that visited the Consulate included consultants such as Mr. Ono Akpe, Mr. Ehi Braimah, Dr. Tony Epelle, and Ikenna Emewu, while Dr. Stanley Ugochukwu and Mr. Jasper Izingbeaye, members of the board of the chambers, accompanied the secretary.
