…….as China adopts unilateral preferential policy on zero tariff on all goods produce in Africa to Chinese market .
FIC REPORT (NASARAWA STATE) – The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the Federal Republic of Nigeria His Excellency Yu Dunhai has assured the people and government of Nasarawa state of his country’s resolve to fast track strategic support that would help raise the bar on human capital development and end illegal mining.
He gave the assurance in his speech during a courtesy visit on His Excellency Governor Abdullahi A. Sule in Lafia the state capital; appreciated Governor Sule for deepening Nigeria’s China trade relations which has brought far-reaching industrial growth in Africa mining sub-sector and particularly Nigeria’s lithium exploration cooperation in recent years.
“Africa had been locked at the lower end of industrial and value-chain by the inequitable international division of Labour and historical injustice which must be corrected. And we believe that Africa resources must serve and benefits Africans people and African’s development…
“The vibrant youths are the most valuable asset of Nasarawa state and China is very proud to support the development of human capital. So, we will like to work with Your Excellency to select talented young people from Nasarawa state to undertake study tour and a training course in China” The Ambassador stated.
He reaffirmed Chinese zero tolerance for illegal mining and their willingness to offer support in terms of strategic collaboration with Nasarawa state government aimed at bringing to an end all forms of illegal mining activities moving forward.
“Your Excellency, you did not only secured multinational investment into Nasarawa state; but also keep the wealth generated from the minerals sector within the domain and China is very happy to play a big part in this as we have a number of Chinese premier companies who are here actively involved in the mineral sector…
“For us, we believe this is a win cooperation. I would like to share that few days ago, Chinese President Xi Jinping had talks with his counterpart President of Botswana who was on a state visit to China where he (Xi Jinping) put forward a four points preposition for enhancing Africa, China mining cooperation and that the first point was that – African resources belongs to Africa” He stated.
He stressed that Xi Jinping further outlined the following: The need for resource sovereignty which denote that African mineral resources belong to Africa and that it is time to integrate Africa to global value chains initiatives.
The next point is entrenching the principle of mutual benefits and shared interests which portends that mining investment initiatives must deliver real economic dividends, capital, technology transfer and provide local employment rather than pure raw-material extraction.
He stressed that President Xi Jinping equally talked about high-quality and green development initiatives which is predicated on encouraging Chinese enterprises to expand green technologies, respect local environmental regulations and support sustainable industrialization.
And the other point that was equally critical in the scheme of things was fair and open business environment that promotes transparent, mutually beneficial partnerships that helps African nations move up to the processing and manufacturing ladder in the chain of production.
The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria Yu Dunhai equally pointed out that Chinese government is ready to collaborate with Nigeria and Nasarawa state government in the
crackdown on illegal mining as Beijing enforces a zero-tolerance policy for illegal mining and expects all Chinese enterprises to strictly comply with local laws and environmental regulations.
In his response, Governor Abdullahi A, Sule thanked His Excellency Ambassador Yu Dunhai for the visit to the state on the invitation of the Emir of Lafia His Royal Highness Justice Sidi Bage Muhammad 1 retired Justice of the supreme court.
He recounted that his first encounter with Chinese companies was tied his relationship with Sinowa while he was still working in Dangote Group of Companies and that he deeply appreciate the sophisticated cutting edge technology the mining companies doing lithium exploration in the state are using.
“They brought the latest kinds of technology you can think of and my greatest happiness is not just necessarily the Chinese are processing in Nasarawa state; but they are processing using the latest technology that there is – and it is our own local people locally who are learning how to operate these technologies and equipments…
“This is what you do when you have serious leadership and then committed follower ship because leadership is one thing but you must also have committed follower ship who understands, who are willing, who are ready and who actually wants to be part of that change” The Governor explained.
He stressed that Nigeria would be lucky to have this kind of transformation like China with the kind of leadership we have if the people will agree to follow.
“You mentioned a lot of good things about your President because the people agreed to follow as the people of China believe in Xi Jinping” He pointed out.
On the human capital development initiative, the Governor said Nasarawa state government takes human capital development seriously as there is an agency established for that purpose.
In the last two decades, African governments has continuously kept challenging China’s mining hegemony as a dominant actor in it’s mining sector. However, the unrelenting insistence on local mineral value-additions has ushered in competing interest from China and America on the exigency of setting up minerals processing plants where explorations are made.
Solomon Mundung
EO Information PRO
Edited By
ARI, LIMAN AMINU.
Head of Centre,
FIC, LAFIA.
