Tinubu returns to Nigeria Sunday after China, UK trip
By John Ogunsemore
President Bola Tinubu will on Sunday return to Nigeria following his official visit to China and short stay in the United Kingdom, the presidency has said.
The President left Abuja for Beijing, China, on August 29 but had a brief stopover in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
He arrived in Beijing on Sunday, September 1, for his official visit.
Tinubu started his official visit on Tuesday, September 2, with a meeting with President Xi Jinping in the Great Hall of the People.
He was accorded a 21-gun salute and also inspected the guards.
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga disclosed that five Memoranda of Understanding were signed between Nigeria and China at the meeting.
Onanuga added, “President Tinubu led his team to another round of bilateral talks with Chinese Premier Li Qiang the following day.
“On the evening of the same day, President Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan, hosted him at the Welcoming Banquet and Cultural Gala Performance on the eve of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit.
“Among the MOUs signed were the Cooperation Plan between Nigeria and China, which was to jointly promote the Belt and Road Initiative, cooperation in the peaceful application of nuclear energy, and strengthening cooperation on human resource development under the Global Development Initiative.
“Others were the Memorandum of Understanding on Media Exchange and Cooperation and the Memorandum of Understanding between China Media Group and the Nigerian Television Authority.
“Nigeria also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) to build the 68 km Lagos Green rail line, designed to run from the Lekki Free Zone to the Marina and connect with the Blue Line.
“A memorandum of understanding for the $1 billion iron ore-to-steel project planned for Kogi State was also signed. Chart and Capstone Integrated Limited of Nigeria and Sinomach-He of China were promoters.
“Before attending the opening of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing, President Tinubu visited two Chinese companies: Huawei and China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC).
“At FOCAC, President Tinubu, as chairman of ECOWAS, delivered a paper on global peace, stressing multilateralism and cooperation as essential ingredients for international peace.
“He capped his visit to China with a meeting with representatives of Nigerians in the Diaspora Organisation, China chapter. During this meeting, he spoke about the necessity of reforms being implemented by his government in Nigeria.
“He hoped they would lead the country to a destination of good roads, constant power, and good schools, like in China.”
Onanuga said Tinubu left Beijing for London, where he spent some days.
“On Thursday, he met with King Charles III to discuss issues related to climate change and action,” the presidential aide added.
