Tech
Nigeria, China to sign $328m ICT deal
Nigeria and China are expected to sign $328 million agreement on the National Information and Communication Technology Infrastructure Backbone Phase 11 (NICTIB 11), presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, has said.
Shehu, who is the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and publicity, made this known in a statement on Saturday.
According to the statement, President Muhammadu Buhari would join his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, to witness the signing of the agreement.
It stated that the pact for $328 million facility provided by the Chinese EXIM Bank would be between Galaxy Backbone Limited and Huawei Technologies Limited (HUAWEI).
“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).
“President Buhari and his Chinese host will also witness the signing of the MoU on One Belt One Road Initiative (OBOR),’’ Shehu said.
Read also: FUNAAB researchers develop first improved indigenous chicken breed
In 2013, the Chinese leader had 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.
“These include 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).” he added.
President Buhari, who is on a 6-day official visit to the Asian country, had arrived Beijing on Saturday to attend the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) holding September 3 – 4, 2018.
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