President Bola Tinubu on Friday in Beijing rounded off his official engagements in People’s Republic of China with a meeting with Nigerians living in the country, assuring them that his administration will replicate quality infrastructure available in China in Nigeria.
Addressing members of Nigerians in Diaspora Organization in China (NIDO China) and the Nigerian community at the China World Hotel, the President to the applause of the audience, stressed that one key takeaway from his visit to China is the commitment to replicate China’s infrastructure back home.
He said: “We want our children to be in good schools, not tattered huts and dilapidated buildings. We must make our teaching innovative and allow businesses of all kinds and sizes to flourish”.
On the recent fuel price hike in Nigeria, President Tinubu described the hard decision taken as one of the unprecedented steps aimed at reforming the country.
According to him: “Nigeria is going through reforms, and we are taking very bold and unprecedented decisions. For example, you might have been hearing from home in the last few days about fuel prices.
“But, can we help it? Can we develop good roads like you have here? You see electricity being constant in quantity and quality. You see water supply, constant and running, and you see their good schools. And we say we want to hand over a banner without stain to our children?
“What is the critical part to get us there if we cannot take hard decisions to pave the way for a country that is blessed and so talented?
“One economic action leads to another, and it is in your hand to build our nation. Mine is to provide the leadership, and I am committed to doing just that,” the President stated.
He noted that while it is not always easy for a leader to have a national consensus on issues, he is ready to take the hard decisions to move the nation forward.
“We are focused, and I have a very good team,” President Tinubu added.
The President while describing his working visit to China as “very good and successful” also emphasized his efforts to strengthen cooperation in infrastructure, trade, finance, energy, green economy and mining during his discussions with President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang and his participation at the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
“What is uppermost in my mind is for you to continue representing Nigeria as good citizens, and I urge you all to be good ambassadors of our nation in China.
“We will always celebrate our diversity. We cherish it, but this diversity is our commitment to serve. If it is about service, we must be good citizens,” President Tinubu stated.
