Nigeria’s Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has requested the Chinese government to consider increasing its financial aid to the country and the African continent as a whole.
Akpabio made the appeal on Tuesday when he played host to the Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC) of China, Zhang Qingwei, who is making a first visit to Africa.
The Senate President called for greater collaboration between Nigeria and China through the strengthening of bilateral relations and support for developmental efforts.
He pointed at a declining trend in Chinese aid commitments to Africa, referencing the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) pledge, which is lower than the $60 billion pledged in 2015.
Describing the occasion as one filled with “promise and possibility,” Akpabio underscored the importance of deepening cooperation between Nigeria and China.
“While China’s trade relations with Africa have continued to grow, I want…