(DDM) – Nigeria’s Minister of State for Works, Bello Muhammad Goronyo, has concluded a one-week official visit to the People’s Republic of China aimed at deepening technical and economic collaboration in the infrastructure sector.
According to Diaspora Digital Media (DDM), the minister led a high-level delegation comprising officials from the Federal Ministry of Works and the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) under an existing technical cooperation agreement with the Global Cooperation Promotion Research Centre.
The visit focused on strengthening partnerships in infrastructure development, technology transfer, public-private partnerships (PPP), and youth capacity building, strategic areas aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Throughout the course of the mission, Goronyo engaged in comprehensive bilateral discussions with high-ranking officials from the China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), recognizing and lauding the company’s exceptional efforts and substantial contribution to the development and enhancement of Nigeria’s road infrastructure.
These discussions were not merely formal exchanges but were substantial dialogues aimed at reinforcing the collaboration between the entities, acknowledging the pivotal role CHEC has played in advancing Nigeria’s transportation networks, and exploring potential avenues for further cooperation and investment in infrastructural projects.
Goronyo emphasized the impact of CHEC’s work in transforming and modernizing the nation’s roads, which has not only facilitated smoother travel and communication but also significantly bolstered economic growth and regional connectivity.
He particularly praised CHEC’s work on the Keffi–Akwanga–Makurdi highway, describing it as a landmark PPP success story under the Highway Development and Management Initiative (HDMI).
The minister emphasized that the visit marked a new phase of collaboration aimed at expanding foreign investment in Nigeria’s construction and maintenance sectors, leveraging Chinese expertise to accelerate road delivery timelines nationwide.
Goronyo also visited the Nigerian Embassy in Beijing, where he was received by the Head of Chancery, Jimmy Ebi Patrick.
He highlighted the importance of closer coordination between Nigerian diplomatic missions and technical ministries to advance Nigeria’s infrastructure diplomacy and attract long-term funding support for national development projects.
The minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to building strong global partnerships that deliver sustainable infrastructure, create employment, and improve connectivity across the country.
