…Seeks activation of $12billion mining equipment investment MoU

John Alechenu

A former Presidential Aspirant of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), Moses Ayom, has applauded President Bola Tinubu’s renewed efforts to improve on Nigeria’s economic partnership with the Peoples Republic of China.

Ayom, who has been an outspoken advocate of strengthening Nigeria’s relations with China, said this in Abuja, on Wednesday.

According to him, the Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) signed in Beijing yesterday on the peaceful use of Nuclear Energy and several other agreements aimed at elevating the existing relationship between the two nations has opened a positive chapter in Nigeria’s economy.

President Bola Tinubu and his Chinese counterpart President Xi Jinping witnessed the signing ceremony in Beijing where  they both committed to advancing economic growth and development between their two nations.

Ayom, who has played vitals roles in Nigeria’s partnership with China including being part of the 2016 Presidential delegation to China, called on Nigerian leader to urgently activate the $1.2 billion mining equipment investment deal signed between Nigeria and China since that year to further boost the advantages of the partnership.

He noted that the delay in activating the mutually beneficial MoU portends a serious economic danger capable of attracting N500 billion loss to the economy, according to the audit conducted by Certified Accountants.

Providing further details and origin of the deal, Ayom revealed said, “The issue is the delay and failure in activating the $1.2 billion mining equipment deal signed by my company, Granite and Marble for the establishment of mining equipment firm in Abuja.

“It is part of the Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) signed between President Muhammadu Buhari and the Chinese government in 2016.

“ The mining equipment deal was signed the same day the $6 billion currency swap deal was signed between Nigeria and China in addition to the $2.5 billion deal.

 He further disclosed that all these were sealed in 2016 in China, when he had the privilege of being in the President’s entourage on a business trip  along with former minister of trade and Industry, Mr Okechukwu Enelamah, who doubled as witness for the Federal Government.

According to him, “To be in that business delegation, our background has been carefully considered and studied as not just the owner of Granite and Marble, but a global Enterprenuer, philanthropist, creativity icon, cultural Ambassador and recipient of the prestigious Award of Outstanding Advocate of China/Nigeria Relations bestowed by the Chinese Government .

 “But shockingly, that deal with the SBM that is meant to be located in Abuja and supported by the Central Bank with RSSF, is yet to take off because the grant for it is yet to be released. The grant is 1 Billion naira which is still hanging, came from CBN under Real sector support facility( RSSF)  where the co ordinating minister of finance is the chairman of CBN.

“Although CBN gave different grants to respective companies, Granite and Marble, which has great potentials of employing more Nigerians across the nation especially in the northern part of Nigeria and reduce banditry, kidnapping and all forms  of negative vices, is yet to take off.”