By Dele Ogbodo
President Muhammadu Buhari, who has reportedly arrived Beijing on Saturday is expected to sign with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping,
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 $328 million facility provided by the Chinese EXIM Bank.
This is coming even as the President traveled to China without Alhaji Adebayo Shittu, the Minister in charge of Communications/ICT. The MD of Galaxy Backbone was also not on the trip, SHARPEDGENEWSOnline learnt.
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).
This was contained in a statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, Mr. Garba Shehu, who said Buhari and his Chinese host will also witness the signing of the MOU on One Belt One Road Initiative (OBOR).
It may be recalled that 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, Dr Zhou Pingjian.
President Buhari will on Sunday (today) 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.