Piracy: China indicates interest to partner Nigeria

The Chinese government has indicated interest to partner with Nigeria in the campaign against piracy on her territorial waters.

This was disclosed by the Acting Chinese Consul General to Nigeria; Mr Li Yong who paid a courtesy visit to the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside recently.

Mr Li Yong who explained that he is happy with the current China-Nigerian relationship stated that the Chinese Central Government is willing to partner with Nigeria in the areas of technological advancement and information sharing.

The Chinese envoy also expressed his government’s determination to support Nigeria in the fight against piracy and other criminal activities at sea.

In his welcome address, the NIMASA DG explained that cooperation among the Global South countries is the way to drive emerging economies to the height of development and commended the Chinese Government for its willingness to strengthen the Nigerian-China relationship as evident in the major developmental projects across the country.

He therefore charged the Chinese Government to extend the collaboration to the Nigerian maritime sector which is critical to the growth of the African economy.

In his words “the Nigerian maritime Sector holds the key to unlocking the opportunities of the sector in the whole of Africa because of our strategic location, population and volume of trade. Therefore if anyone wants to do business in Africa, Nigeria is the place of choice.”

The DG also stated that the Agency is willing to partner with the Chinese Maritime Administration in the areas of ship breaking and recycling, on-board training for cadets as well as technical support.

It would be recalled that Dr Peterside has continuously advocated for local and international collaboration for the actualisation of the potentials of the Nigerian maritime industry since assumption of duty.