Niger State Government has welcomed the desires of the Jilin Province of the Republic of China to collaborate with it for mutual benefits.
Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago made this known when he received a delegation from the Jilin Province at the Niger State liaison office in Abuja.
The areas of collaboration are Agriculture, the automotive industry, education and health among others.
Governor Umaru Bago said their visit was timely as the State is seeking collaborations with other states across the globe for the betterment of Niger State and its citizenry.
The Governor said Nigeria as a nation and Niger as a State have no reason to be poor considering the abundant natural and human resources.
“We have no reason to be poor as a country. We have no reason to be poor as a State. We have human and natural resources ranging from land, water, and animals, and huge deposits of lithium, gold, aluminium, copper, and silica, among others.
Understanding what we have, we should not be poor again”, he said.
He described as impressive how the Jilin Province grew its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to 10.3 trillion Chinese Yuan, adding that the Niger State government will work closely with the Province to grow its own.
Governor Umaru Bago expressed optimism that the partnership will lead to prosperity for both partners.
On an invitation extended to the State to visit Jilin Province, the Governor said a team would be set up, to be led by him and the date for the visit would be communicated to the Province.
Earlier, the Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of Jilin Provincial People’s Congress, Fan Ruiping, said the visit was aimed at ensuring collaborations between the Province and Niger State government.
He explained that Jilin Province is the first in China to complete the industrialization of modern agriculture and to have an automotive industry.
Ruiping further disclosed that the Province has made substantial progress over the years, especially in its GDP and has complete industrial structures with large quantities of outputs.
Chairman, House Committee on Nigeria/China Parliamentary Relations Jafaru Yakubu who facilitated the Chinese visit, expressed willingness to ensure that the collaborations between Niger State and Jilin Province come to fruition.
Bologi Ibrahim
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Niger State
14/12/2023.
