Nigeria and China are set to expand collaboration on infrastructure development, public-private partnerships (PPP), and youth capacity building following a week-long strategic visit by the Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo, to key Chinese engineering and construction companies.
The visit, undertaken under the existing Technical Cooperation Agreement between the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) and China’s Global Cooperation Promotion Research Center, focused on strengthening partnerships in road construction, equipment support, and technology transfer as key pillars of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
During high-level meetings in Beijing and Xuzhou, the Nigerian delegation secured commitments from top Chinese firms, including China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), XCMG, and China Gezhouba Group Company (CGGC) to deepen investment, enhance skills exchange, and expand their corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes in Nigeria.
At the headquarters of CHEC, a subsidiary of China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), Goronyo urged the firm to scale up its participation in Nigeria’s PPP-driven infrastructure programme.
He cited the company’s successful execution of the Keffi–Akwanga–Makurdi Highway under the Highway Development and Management Initiative (HDMI) as a model for future partnerships.
He called for increased collaboration through the PPP framework to accelerate delivery of durable road infrastructure, in line with the Tinubu administration’s economic renewal and job creation goals.
Goronyo also encouraged CHEC to expand its CSR footprint by investing in youth technical training in road construction and maintenance to promote employment and self-reliance.
In Xuzhou, the Minister and FERMA’s Managing Director, Engr. Chukwuemeka Agbasi, held talks with XCMG, a global leader in construction and maintenance equipment manufacturing.
The discussions centered on two core areas of cooperation, equipment support and youth empowerment.
Under the proposed arrangement, XCMG will provide specialized machinery to enhance FERMA’s operational efficiency while partnering with the Ministry to establish training programmes for Nigerian youths in equipment operation, maintenance, and related technical services.
Goronyo said the partnership would not only boost road maintenance capacity but also foster commerce, connectivity, and employment opportunities across Nigeria.
At China Gezhouba Group Company (CGGC) headquarters in Beijing, discussions focused on PPP models, infrastructure collaboration, and human capacity development for Nigerian engineers and construction professionals.
CGGC’s President, Zhang Jun, showcased the company’s global track record, including projects like the Three Gorges Dam in China and Nigeria’s Mambilla Hydropower Project.
Goronyo commended CGGC’s contribution to Nigeria’s development and called for an expansion of its engagement through new PPP-driven road infrastructure projects.
He also proposed scholarships for Nigerian engineers to receive technical training in China and the establishment of local training centres to enhance capacity in road construction, maintenance, and materials technology.
In response, Zhang pledged to dispatch a high-level CGGC delegation to Abuja to develop a joint working document on identified areas of cooperation.
The Minister also emphasized closer coordination between Nigeria’s foreign missions and the Ministry of Works to strengthen diplomatic and institutional ties that support infrastructure development.
During a courtesy visit to the Nigerian Embassy in Beijing, he described the mission as “a home away from home,” reaffirming the need for synergy in advancing Nigeria’s economic and infrastructural goals abroad.
The China technical visit marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to modernize its road network, promote youth employment through technology-driven skills, and strengthen bilateral relations with China.
Through these engagements with global engineering and equipment giants, Goronyo said the Ministry is translating President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda into tangible international partnerships that will drive sustainable infrastructure growth, economic expansion, and a more connected Nigeria.
