China has expressed its desire to deepen ties with the government of Abia State and extend its “Fight Against Hunger and Poverty” initiative to the region.
This was disclosed by the Consul General of the People’s Republic of China to Nigeria, Ms. Yan Yuqing, during a working visit to Abia State Governor Alex Otti on Wednesday. Leading a delegation, Ms. Yuqing reiterated China’s commitment to fostering partnerships in vocational education and agriculture and announced plans to donate computers to the state.
“So really, I think that this trip, for me, is a visit of understanding and investigation and to strengthen friendship, especially to find opportunities. Yes, it’s also a journey of hope and of the future,” she said.
“I hope that next year, we can open this window to China in your state university, university of agriculture, or state polytechnic.
“I hope that I can help you to find a partner, a sister university, or polytechnic colleagues in China for exchange programs. So, you can start the people-to-people exchange programs, like students, like teachers, and so on.”
Ms. Yuqing also announced plans to help establish an “Abia City” in China to enhance bilateral ties—an initiative that would make Abia the sixth Nigerian state to have a city named after it in China.
She praised Governor Otti’s leadership style, saying the strength of his administration gives her confidence in the success of future collaborations. As part of China’s support, she presented food items worth over ₦4 million to be distributed to vulnerable populations in the state under the anti-poverty initiative.
In his response, Governor Alex Otti expressed strong interest in partnering with China, pointing out the shared values between the people of Abia and the Chinese.
“The can-do spirit, the entrepreneurial spirit, and the never-say-die spirit are what you get in Abia people. That’s why the way to approach development here will be different from the way you approach it elsewhere,” he said.
“Our people are very hardworking. They do not really believe in handouts. They believe they can fend for themselves. But then, you cannot also rule out the vagaries of the economy and all the challenges that come with it.
“That’s why today, we (Nigerians) as a country are still dealing with somewhere around 50% of our people living in poverty. That’s a large number when you compare that with China, a 1.42 billion-person economy, and the poverty rate is just 1%. So, we must do something intentional to ensure that we get our people out of poverty,” Gov. Otti stated.
However, the governor also used the occasion to call out delays by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) in delivering infrastructure projects in the state.
“Now, specifically to CCECC, yes, we did give you the first two jobs in Aba. You completed one on time, and the other one took so long. And then we gave you two more.
“So, the reason I have decided not to give you jobs anymore is for you to complete the ones you are already on. They (CCECC) didn’t come to canvas for jobs. As soon as I resumed, I sent for them. So, that means confidence.
“And I instructed that no other job that we were going to be giving out should be given to them. Even the government house that they designed, I have refused to give it to them. So, the reason you are not getting jobs is because you are not performing. “We don’t accept excuses,” Gov. Otti stated.
He also questioned why CCECC has yet to establish an office in Abia or assign senior officials to oversee their existing projects in the state.
