President to correct lapses in rail development agreements with China

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday pledged that his administration would correct lapses hindering the smooth implementation of rail development agreements signed between Nigeria and China.

The President, who gave this assurance in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, noted that the agreements were signed under past administrations for the development of rail transportation in Nigeria.

It stated that President Buhari was speaking at bilateral talks with President Xi Jinping at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Johannesburg, South Africa.

``Federal Government would strive to fulfil Nigeria’s obligations under the agreements as their implementation would help to boost the country’s economy and generate thousands of new jobs.``I have looked into the previous agreements and we will now keep our part of the bargain’’, he further assured.

He noted that Chinese advisers deployed to some states of the federation were helping to train farmers on water conservation and the use of more productive seeds.

In his remarks, the statement quoted President Jinping as describing Nigeria as a very important ally of China in Africa, saying that the two countries needed to boost their bilateral relations, for the good of their citizens.

He said that China was keen to work with Nigeria for the mutual benefit of both countries.

At the opening session of the summit attended by President Buhari and more than 30 other African leaders, the Chinese President had pledged 60 billion dollars of new development aid to African countries.