Russia - Nigeria Deal
in Sochi: Princewill describes Buhari as Baba Christmas in Advance
... Lists the acceptance of Russia to return to complete and
Commission the abandoned Ajaokuta Steel Rolling Mill to kick start the
industrialisation of Nigeria and 12 other Take-Aways as most significant
Prince Tonye TJT Princewill an APC chieftain in a statement
he issued described President Muhammadu Buhari's current outing in Russia as a
harvest of goodies for Nigeria.
According to the Prince of Niger Delta Politics, "I
want to congratulate Mr President and his team for what they have achieved in
Russia. Coming a few weeks to this year’s Christmas celebrations, permit me to
call him Baba Christmas. The fact that the journey to a next level has already
begun is now clearly obvious.
Those who displayed their ignorance of how world trade and
politics are played by going on record to say that Buhari need not go to Sochi
but should instead stay at home and solve the problems of decades sitting back
in the villa, must now be hiding their collective heads in shame. To see and
hear all that Mr. President has achieved
in Russia should impress even his harshest critics - if they have a conscience
of course.
As I scrolled down the 13 different agreements that were
reached, I couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of pride at the amount of effort
and teamwork that must have preceded the visit and the different areas of the
country and the economy impacted by them. My single biggest emotion though was
relief. Because of the top three priorities we need as a country, which are
Jobs, Jobs, Jobs. I see millions of jobs from this visit alone. But as with so
many agreements, meetings, summits and presidential visits, follow up is key.
With a new cabinet that has results to deliver and a more collaborative
legislature however, I see few challenges to a positive outcome.
As I scrolled down the 13 areas of agreement reached and
compared it with reports from the other 4 countries that were specially invited
to Sochi, it became obvious that Egypt that had a whopping 40% of all Russian
investment to date were about to share the same space of prominence with
Nigeria as it was clear that there was a pivot to our own dear fatherland by
Russia. Add that to the clear and present preferred destination status for the
Chinese investment and you will see that the future is getting brighter. This
opportunity is a direct product of a government that has now instilled a new
uncommon confidence in international investment. A summary of the trip as put out
by Garba Shehu is as follows:
1. They agreed to see to the rehabilitation of epileptic oil
refineries through establishment of framework for a joint venture between
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Russia-based leading oil
company, Lukoil
2. Both NNPC and Lukoil will work towards prospection of oil
in deep offshore.
Nigeria and Russia also agreed to revive and solidify the
venture between the NNPC and Russia’s gas giant, Gazprom, for the development
of Nigeria’s enormous gas potential and infrastructure.
3. On Ajaokuta
Steel Company: The issue of uncompleted and abandoned Ajaokuta Steel Rolling
Mill was presented by President Buhari. His request for the return of Russia,
on a government-to-government relationship for completion and commissioning of
the plant was accepted by President Putin.
Earlier, the Minister of Mines and Steel Development,
Olamilekan Adegbite had a very fruitful discussion with his counterpart in
Russia on Ajaokuta.
4. The Russia government agreed to support development of
Nigeria’s rail infrastructure by constructing 1,400 kilometres track from Lagos
to the South-South city of Calabar.
5. There was also discussion on the advancement of ongoing
project for the establishment of a nuclear power plant in Nigeria. According to
President Putin, the next step in the implementation of the project should be
the commencement of construction of a power plant.
On security and military cooperation, one that existed for
fifty-nine years of Nigeria’s independence,
6. Baba Christmas agreed to renew Nigeria-Russia Military
Technical Agreement that had lapsed within a short time, saying: “I have
directed the Minister of Defence to work with the Ministry of Justice to
conclude this matter within the shortest possible time.”
This military cooperation agreement is expected to give
impetus to further cooperation in direct procurement of military hardware on a
government-to-government basis at a lower cost as well as training of military
personnel and modernization of armed forces and renewal of infrastructure and
equipment which President Putin promised to undertake.
7. On the protracted issue of the Aluminum Smelter Company
of Nigeria (ALSCON) Ikot-Abasi, Akwa-Ibom State, President Buhari said that he
had asked the Ministry of Justice, “to submit a comprehensive report on the UC
Russel (the Russian owners of the plant) matter...I want to assure you that the
aim of our reforms is to ensure such investments are concluded and actualized
in a professional and painless manner.”
The two Presidents also addressed partnership in education
and agriculture.
8. In education, the Russia leader said as a first step they
would give additional scholarships to Nigerians.
9. In Agriculture Baba Christmas said, “We seek your
Government’s support especially in the areas of wheat production. Today,
Nigeria produces less than one hundred thousand metric tons of wheat locally
while our imports are projected to exceed five million tons in 2020. We
therefore need your support to bridge the deficit which will create jobs and
save our foreign exchange for other important areas like security, defence and
infrastructure.”
On this, President Putin promised to promote joint efforts,
given his country’s ranking as the current number one wheat producer in the
world.
“We can do a lot together,” Putin added.
10. The Russian President said Nigeria should take advantage
of Russia’s potassium resources to advance President Buhari’s local fertiliser
production program.
Putin promised his country’s support for the geological
prospection of Nigeria’s solid minerals.
11. Putin also gave assurances of working with Nigeria and
other African countries to secure and stop the incidents of piracy in the Gulf
of Guinea as they did in securing the Somali coastal areas.
12. President Putin expressed further determination to
secure Nigeria and the rest of Africa from terrorists. He told President Buhari
that 2,000 ex-ISIS terrorists joined Boko Haram last year.
In conclusion, President Buhari said:
13. To move forward may I suggest that our countries
organize the fifth Joint Commission meeting to review and ratify all the
agreements (about 40) contained in the Intergovernmental Nigeria-Russia Joint
Commission on Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation Protocol of
November 11, 2016.”
President Putin agreed to the proposal.
Both leaders emphasized the need for reform of United
Nations Security Council. On that point, President Buhari asked Russia to
support Nigeria’s aspiration for a permanent membership of the council.
“The trip was a diplomatic masterpiece, a rebuff to those
ignorant of the duties of a President of a country asking him to ignore the
invitation. He is the No 1 Diplomat of His country and no diplomat stays in one
place and expects good relationships with other countries. He is the Chief
Sales Officer of his country and there’s no salesman who stays in his company
and expects to make greater sales. He is the Chief Public Relations Officer and
Reputation Manager of his country, again no Public Relations officer would stay
back and expects any good relationships with sister countries. With the damage
to our reputation from corruption, crime and the self afflicted injuries of
PDP’s 16 years of misrule, we can’t expect the President to stay in one place and
think that things will improve. In any case what are the results of Mr
President’s diplomatic forays? From China we have the Railways, Mambilla Dam
and better Airports. From Germany, Siemens power interventions. From South
Africa better protection for our citizens. From Saudi Arabia and the Middle
East we have the Sukuk bond. The list goes on. What are the benefits of such
negativity other than further erosion to our name and image? This is something
the President is working very hard to correct. I support him. I suggest we all
do same”, Princewill appealed.
