By Dickson Okafor
AS arrangements are being concluded for President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to China, a Nigerian businessman based in the Asian country, Mr. Festus Mbisiogu, has appealed to the President to stopover to Guangzhou, as this would strengthen the relationship between the authorities there and the Nigerian community. Mbisiogu is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Blue Diamond Logistics, China,
The businessman said since it became public knowledge that Buhari will visit China, Nigerians in Guangzhou have been in high spirit, as they believe that the visit would go a long way in improving their lot in the country.
He added that if Buhari visits Guangzhou, it will give Nigerians in the city a boost and would help to reduce the challenge they face in trying to get visa.
Mbisiogu, who is a member of China Africa Business Club, noted that Buhari’s visit to Guangzhou would be significant, as the city, apart from being the second largest city in China and the commercial hub of the Asia tiger, has the largest population of Nigerians in the country.
According to him, Nigerians in the city have been looking forward for an opportunity to host a Nigerian President for a long time. However, he said that has not being possible hence the appeal to President Buhari to stopover at Guangzhou after his stay in Beijing, the capital of China.
“I am using my position as one of the Special Advisers to the leader of Nigeria community in China, to beg President Buhari to come and hear from Nigerians here who are helping to grow Chinese economy”, Mbisiogu said.
He emphasised that a stopover at Guangzhuo this will also afford President Buhari the opportunity to intimate Nigerians in the city of his administration economic policy, which he said can attract some of Nigerian and foreign investors to the country
The businessman, who praised the Chinese government for its hospitality, recalled how he and other Nigerians in China prevailed on the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan to establish Nigerian Consulate in Guangzhou. He said consulate has reduced the sufferings of Nigerians, who hitherto travels for about six hours by air and 40 hours by train to Beijing to normalise their documents or obtain visa.