President Bola Tinubu has left Abuja for a working visit to China, marking a significant diplomatic engagement as tensions rise over the recent seizure of Nigerian assets by a Chinese company. The President’s journey, which includes a brief stopover in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), was confirmed by Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, in a statement released on Thursday.
Tinubu’s visit to China comes at a critical time, following a French court’s ruling in favor of Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited, a Chinese firm, which resulted in the seizure of three Nigerian presidential jets in France. The assets were taken as security in a long-standing legal dispute involving an arbitration award between the foreign company and the Ogun State government.
During his stay in Beijing, President Tinubu is scheduled to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping and engage with top Chinese business leaders on the sidelines of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. These discussions are expected to focus on strengthening bilateral ties, economic partnerships, and resolving ongoing issues affecting both nations.
Accompanying the President on this crucial trip are senior government officials, who are expected to participate in the high-level meetings. The visit is seen as a strategic move to address not only diplomatic relations but also the pressing issue of asset seizures, which has sparked concerns about Nigeria’s international standing and its economic implications.
The recent developments have placed Nigeria’s diplomatic relations with China under scrutiny, with the seizure of assets raising questions about the country’s ability to protect its interests abroad. As Tinubu embarks on this visit, all eyes will be on how the discussions in China might influence the outcome of the asset dispute and the future of Nigeria-China relations.
