The federal government of the Folks’s Republic of China has pledged robust technical and diplomatic help for Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to modernise and automate operations at its seaports.
This alerts a deepening partnership between the 2 nations within the maritime sector.
The dedication was made on behalf of the federal government by China’s vice minister of Transport, Mr Li Yang, throughout a bilateral assembly with Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economic system, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, on the sidelines of maritime engagements in London, the ministry acknowledged on Tuesday.
Li Yang praised President Bola Tinubu for establishing the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economic system as a totally devoted ministry, describing the choice as a transformative step for Nigeria’s maritime future.
He famous that China presently operates 52 absolutely automated ports among the many highest quantity globally, including that the nation has the capability, expertise and technological experience to help Nigeria because it transitions from guide and semi-automated programs to a totally digitalised port atmosphere.
He defined that China’s automated ports had enhanced commerce effectivity, drastically decreased vessel turnaround time, strengthened safety via clever surveillance, and minimised human error utilizing built-in digital platforms.
He stated an identical method, tailored to Nigeria’s particular wants, may unlock new ranges of competitiveness for Africa’s largest financial system.
In keeping with him, China stands prepared to help Nigeria in deploying good port infrastructure, cargo-handling automation, digital gate programs, digital customs processes, and superior maritime communication applied sciences.
He additionally reaffirmed China’s help for Nigeria within the upcoming Worldwide Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council election scheduled for Friday, 28 November.
He counseled the longstanding, cordial relationship between the 2 nations, noting that Nigeria has remained one among China’s strongest companions in Africa.
Li Yang expressed satisfaction with the presence of quite a few Chinese language corporations working in Nigeria’s rail, highway and port development sectors, including that such cooperation has contributed considerably to Nigeria’s infrastructural growth.
Along with technical help, the Chinese language Vice Minister of Transport introduced China’s willingness to increase maritime schooling and capacity-building alternatives to younger Nigerians.
This consists of scholarships beneath China’s specialised maritime coaching scheme and participation within the World Innovation in Transport Programme, a four-week intensive coaching programme designed to equip members with cutting-edge trade information.
He additionally invited Dr Oyetola to China’s Sustainable Transport Summit, scheduled for subsequent 12 months. He revealed {that a} draft Memorandum of Understanding is being ready to strengthen bilateral maritime cooperation between the 2 nations.
Responding, Nigeria’s minister of Marine and Blue Economic system, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, expressed deep appreciation for China’s continued partnership and its pledge to again Nigeria’s IMO Council bid, assuring that Nigeria would reciprocate the goodwill.
He highlighted Nigeria’s need to deepen technical collaboration with China in a number of strategic areas, together with port digitalisation, maritime security, shipbuilding and ship restore capability, inland waterways growth, seafarer coaching, blue financial system investments and maritime environmental safety.
Oyetola reaffirmed that Nigeria’s waters have recorded zero piracy incidents within the final 4 years, with vital enhancements additionally famous throughout the Gulf of Guinea. He attributed the progress to sustained surveillance, regional cooperation and the deployment of the Deep Blue safety belongings.
He sought China’s help in combating Unlawful, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing via fashionable monitoring applied sciences, satellite-based monitoring programs and joint enforcement initiatives. He additionally known as for Chinese language help in growing Nigeria’s fisheries and aquatic assets, figuring out it as a significant pillar of the nation’s blue financial system enlargement technique.
The assembly concluded with mutual commitments to strengthen maritime ties, advance technical cooperation and work in direction of signing the forthcoming bilateral MoU that can outline new areas of collaboration between each nations.
