China to Prioritize Investments in Nigeria’s Agricultural, Industrial Sectors

The People’s Republic of China has said it is partnering with relevant authorities to revamp Nigeria’s agricultural and industrial sectors, prioritizing areas of investments.

The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Cui Jiachun, stated this after the China-Nigeria Business Dialogue with Ministerial-Level Officials, and Representatives of Political Parties from Nigeria and China in Abuja themed, “Seeking Common Cooperation and Development Through Inter-party Exchanges.”

Speaking, Jiachun noted that the partnership would start with the Kano State Government in the area of trade and investment as well as to strengthen ties with Nigeria at all levels of government.

His words: “I think we can prioritize areas, for example the Fujian province and Kano State, they can work together from the state level to other levels. I think this is a very innovative way to expedite and accelerate development. “China will replicate the programme in all other states of Nigeria.”

On his part, Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje said the state is an agricultural state in Nigeria, producing a lot of grains.

According to him, Kano has the largest grain market in West Africa, pointing out that a lot of Chinese are in commercial activities in markets within the state.

Speaking on the state’s investment interest, he said, “You can see that we need a lot of processing in order to convert those grains into finished products. We require collaboration in terms of machinery and in terms of personnel manpower for production. Another area is in hides and skin. Kano has the highest number of finished products for hides and skin because we get a lot from Niger and Chad therefore, we have a number of tanneries. But we export the hides and skin instead of converting to finished products. So, we need collaboration with Fujian Province whereby the hides and skin can be converted into finished products for exports and for consumption,” Ganduje added.

Furthermore, the governor said another important area the state was seeking collaboration is on the establishment of ranching, especially in the production of grasses for cattle.

The development, he explained, would reduce the migration of herdsmen from one state to another and address farmer and herder crises. “We are discussing with them on how to produce grasses that are good for cattle so that we can domesticate our herdsmen and put them in one place to reduce movement from one place to another.”

Also, Ganduje informed that part of the agreement was to revamp the textile industry in the state, calling for more foreign investments in the sector.

Agro Nigeria