Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has lauded the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Nigeria and China, emphasizing that the agreement will significantly enhance transparency and public service delivery in the state.
Sani made this known while addressing journalists in Beijing, China, during the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit, where President Bola Tinubu and Chinese President Xi Jinping signed several MoUs aimed at strengthening bilateral ties.
The Kaduna State Governor also signed an MoU with Chinese tech giant Huawei, focusing on the establishment of a smart city in Kaduna.
The agreement, which was finalized in the presence of President Tinubu, marks a major step forward in the state’s efforts to leverage technology for improved governance and security.
“We are working to establish a joint committee between the government of Kaduna and Huawei Company within one or two weeks to ensure the successful implementation of this agreement,” Sani stated.
He highlighted that discussions with Huawei had been ongoing for the past 15 months, and the MoU signified both parties’ readiness to move forward with the project.
The smart city initiative, according to Sani, is designed to bolster security through the deployment of CCTV cameras, enhance e-governance, and improve transparency in public service delivery.
“The most important aspect of the Kaduna-Huawei agreement is that it was signed in the presence of President Tinubu and Huawei’s management, underscoring the significance of this partnership,” he added.
Beyond security, the MoU with Huawei will also focus on creating smart education and healthcare services, advancing renewable energy, and fostering talent creation through the digital economy.
“This agreement will support the development of our transportation system, particularly in renewable energy, which is key to the industrialization of our state,” Sani noted.
The Governor also signed an agreement with the Governor of Hubei Province to establish the Hubei Industrial Park in Kaduna, to be constructed by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC).
This project aims to attract Chinese investors to Nigeria, particularly in the solid mineral resources sector, which has already seen significant interest from Chinese companies.
“We have secured an investment worth $100 million, and there are several other partnerships in rural agriculture that are crucial for boosting our state’s GDP,” Sani revealed.
Governor Sani reiterated that agriculture remains a critical sector in Kaduna, contributing approximately 42% of the state’s GDP.
He described Huawei as a reliable partner and expressed confidence in the outcomes of the agreements.
“The signed agreement is aimed at solidifying all discussions we had before now.
The meeting between the Chinese President and Nigerian President is unprecedented.
The MoUs signed are in terms of security, trade and investment, solid minerals, infrastructure, and agriculture,” Sani stated.
He concluded by praising the open and frank discussions between Presidents Tinubu and Xi, expressing optimism that the agreements would yield positive results for Kaduna State and Nigeria as a whole.
“Nigeria is Africa’s largest economy, and we must lead by example. With a president determined to ensure our country reaches the promised land, Africa will take its rightful place globally,” Sani declared.
