President Muhammadu Buhari and Russian President, Vladimir Putin
Wednesday in Sochi, Russia, agreed to put Nigeria-Russia relations on a
fast track, and pursue the completion of partially completed and
abandoned projects initiated by both countries.
At a bilateral meeting held on sidelines of ongoing Russia-Africa
Summit, the two leaders agreed to start new infrastructure projects and
expand trade and investment, security and military cooperation.
In statements made by both leaders, Nigeria and Russia will work
together to improve efficiency of Nigeria’s oil sector, which is the
backbone of the economy, in a way that will see to 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.
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.
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 in the day, the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arch
Olamilekan Adegbite had a very fruitful discussion with his counterpart
in Russia on Ajaokuta.
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.
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, President Buhari 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.
On 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. The Russia leader said they would give additional
scholarships to Nigerians.
“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,” President Buhari said.
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.
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 and 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.
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:
” 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. President Buhari asked Russia to support Nigeria’s aspiration
for a permanent membership of the council.