The summit, which was coordinated by the Executive Vice-Chairman/CEO, Merited Negotiation Consulting, Kunle Yusuff, had in attendance dignitaries including legislators, Chinese diplomats, policy makers, corporate executives, and development partners.
Declaring the summit open, Speaker, House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, expressed support for a legislative agenda aimed at enhancing the ease of doing business in Nigeria and deepening economic ties with China.
Abbas, who was represented by the Minority Leader of the House, Kingsley Chinda, disclosed plans for a comprehensive bill designed to boost trade facilitation and align Nigeria’s economic frameworks with global standards.
In his address, the Director-General, Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership and Global Liaison, Joseph Tegbe, called for appropriate legislation, trade facilitation laws, tariff harmonisation, and Customs reforms to reduce bottlenecks to ensure Nigeria benefits maximally from the zero-tariff access and bilateral trade frameworks.
He said, “The partnership for trade prosperity reflects China’s commitment to zero-tariff access for least-developed countries, including 53 African states.
“This is an unprecedented gesture by a major economic power and positions Nigeria to exploit China’s vast consumer market, especially in agriculture, manufacturing, and digital trade.
“The action was implemented about a week ago by the Government of China, which removed tariffs on exports from 53 African countries, including Nigeria.
“We are seeing opportunities, and it is our responsibility to maximise these opportunities to re-industrialise Nigeria, which is the objective and in line with the bold and audacious vision of President Bola Tinubu for a one trillion dollars economy.”
Also speaking, “the Chairman of the House Committee on Nigeria-China Relations, Hon. Jaafaru Yakubu, described the summit as “a legislative milestone” and the first of its kind to be led by a national parliamentary committee”.
Yakubu said: “This summit is not just a diplomatic gesture, it is a step toward eliminating trade bottlenecks, fostering policy coherence, and enhancing Nigeria’s global competitiveness”.
“With over $23 billion in trade recorded in 2023, primarily through imports, it is time for us to reposition Nigeria as a trade hub by creating enabling legislation.”
A member of the Technical Working Group of the Summit and the Senior Special Assistant to Ogun State Governor on Development Partners Coordination, Dr. Bayo Adenekan, who made a presentation on behalf of Ogun State during the summit said the relationship between Nigeria and China will be mutually beneficial as he enumerated some of the key achievements of his Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun CON in the state to sustain this partnerships.
Dr. Adenekan said the development pillars of the government is built on ISEYA mantra as the summit theme sync with his vision for partnerships, create economic development and individual prosperity of Ogun State Citizens. He sought from the forum the need for the sub-national to be integrated into the proposed bill of the Committee towards addressing issues on ease of doing business since all business and investments are localised in one State or the other. He revealed that the state is already hosting several Chinese nationals who are doing business and operating industries in Ogun State as the industrial base of the nation and this has resulted to increasing our IGR on incremental basis year on year and also provide employment opportunities for the youths in Ogun State.
