Senate President Godswill Akpabio has urged China to increase financial aid to Nigeria and Africa, highlighting the need for stronger bilateral ties. He made the appeal during a meeting with Zhang Qingwei, Vice Chairman of China’s National People’s Congress, on his first visit to Africa.
Akpabio emphasized that Chinese aid commitments have declined, citing a lower pledge in the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation compared to 2015. He called for enhanced collaboration to boost economic, cultural, and social development in Nigeria.
Zhang reaffirmed China’s commitment to Nigeria’s growth and noted that the visit aims to strengthen ties, building on earlier discussions between Presidents Xi Jinping and Bola Tinubu. Both leaders proposed establishing a Nigeria-China Parliamentary Friendship Group to foster legislative cooperation.