Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
The Chinese government has granted the federal government of Nigeria relief support of one million dollars to provide succour to families and communities affected by natural disasters. This was consequent to the reported cases of flooding incidences in several states of the country.
This was the culmination of the agreement signed in Abuja on Wednesday between the federal government and the Chinese government.
The Honourable Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, signed on behalf of Nigeria, while the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Yu Dunhai signed on behalf of China.
In his remarks during the occasion, the Minister expressed the federal government’s appreciation to the Government of China for this this laudable gesture.
His words: “This gesture is a reflection of the long-standing bilateral relations between our two dear countries, built on mutual respect, cooperation, and a shared vision for sustainable development.
“This assistance is particularly timely, as it is targeted at communities in states that have been most affected by recent flooding disasters, including Kebbi, Jigawa, Sokoto, Borno, Taraba and Adamawa. The intervention will go a long way in complementing government’s ongoing efforts to provide relief materials and rebuild the livelihoods of those severely impacted areas.
“I wish to emphasize that the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, in collaboration with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, will coordinate the effective implementation of this project. A transparent framework, leveraging past experiences and unified templates, will guide the process to ensure that the assistance reaches the intended beneficiaries in the most efficient and impactful manner.
“Furthermore, the Government of Nigeria fully welcomes the joint monitoring and evaluation mechanism agreed with the Embassy of China. This will ensure transparency and accountability, promote learning, and strengthen our partnership in humanitarian and development cooperation. Senator Bagudu further stated: “This humanitarian support is not only a demonstration of China’s goodwill, but also a testimony of the growing cooperation between our two nations in areas such as trade, infrastructure, technology, agriculture, and now, disaster relief. It is our firm belief that today’s signing ceremony will open new windows of collaboration that will deepen our strategic partnership for the mutual benefit of our people.
The Minister also expressed the commitment of the Federal Government of Nigeria to working closely with the Embassy of China to guarantee the successful implementation of the project, adding that, “We look forward to further consolidating our friendship through initiatives that promote prosperity, resilience, and sustainable development”.
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