The amount of investments from China to Nigeria stood at $13billion as of December 31, 2016.
Deputy Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Nigeria, Jin Ping, revealed this when he led a delegation to the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu in Abuja Tuesday.
Jing who reaffirmed China’s commitment to Nigeria’s development, said his delegation was at the National Assembly to strengthen the bilateral ties between Nigeria and China.
He said China was also demonstrating that commitment to Nigeria’s friendship and development through the $1.3 Lagos-Ibadan Railway Project, $326 million 30 rice mills projects slated for various parts of the country, China EXIM Bank funded $984 million Zungeru Hydro-Electricity Project and $450 million loan for the construction of Keffi Road.
According to a 2014 BBC World Service Poll, 85 percent of Nigerians view China’s influence positively, with only 10percent expressing a negative view, making Nigeria the most pro-Chinese nation in the world.
From 2000 to 2011, there were approximately 40 Chinese official development finance projects in Nigeria.
Responding, Ekweremadu called on the Chinese government to ensure the proper and fair treatment of Nigerians working in Chinese firms in Nigeria.
While appreciating the government and people of China for their support towards Nigeria’s development, especially in the areas of investments, roads, railway, agriculture, and power, among others, the lawmaker also decried reports of alleged mistreatment of Nigerians by their Chinese employers as well as alleged illegal mining by some Chinese nationals in Nigeria.
He said: “We have received reports of discrimination and mistreatment of our citizens working in Chinese factories in Nigeria. We want to see more of Chinese factories and presence in Nigeria to help us reload the private sector. But, we also want to see Nigerians who work in Chinese factories treated like their Chinese colleagues. We welcome you with open hands and we expect you to also treat our people well, like your people”.
