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Nigeria, China Sign Culture and Tourism Statute
Nigeria, China Sign Culture and Tourism Statute
By: Michael Mike
Nigeria and the People’s Republic of China have signed a joint Culture and Tourism Statute and inaugurated a sub-committee that would further strengthen bilateral cooperation between both countries.
Representatives of both countries signed the act and inaugurated the committee during a virtual event hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Abuja on Wednesday.
During the event, China’s Vice Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mr Zhang Xu, while recalling that Nigeria and China “have enjoyed good bilateral relations in the past 50 years,” noted that culture and tourism have played critical roles in strengthening the ties.
He revealed that the aim of adopting the act and establishing the sub-committee was to promote inter-cultural collaboration and connectivity between the Chinese and Nigerian people in furtherance of China-Africa relations.
He said the establishment of an inter-governmental committee with Nigeria is the first-ever between China and Africa, noting that this action testify to how important and strategic China considered Nigeria.
He said: “As important contributors to the strategic partnership between our two countries, culture and tourism should play greater roles in increasing the people-to-people connectivity for the benefit of the two countries.
“That is the mission of the culture and tourism sub-committee that we are establishing today.
“Therefore, members of our ministries and sub-committees must make good use of the platform in alignment with the objectives of FOCAC, its eight ministerial meetings, Belt and Road Initiative, and FOCAC Action Plan 2022-2024.”
He added that: “We must work together to offset the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact and the planned programmes that the sub-committee covers such as culture, tourism, publishing heritage, library, and museum.
“Our goal must always be to promote our interculturality, and cultural collaboration, full relationship and connectivity between China and Nigeria people in the new areas of China-Africa relations.”
Zhang advised the sub-committee to ensure the promotion of activities and events that would further boost cultural ties between both countries.
He said: “I would like to propose the following; keep working on events like Happy Chinese New Year, Chinese and African culture in focus, and resume mutual visits of artists as soon as the pandemic situation allows.
“Also, we should continue to carry out capacity building programmes in culture and tourism and support cooperation between Chinese and Nigerian cultural businesses.”
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On his part, the Ambassador of China to Nigeria, Cui Jianchun said that the establishment of the Act and sub-committee on Culture and tourism is a good start to a greater future with new dynamics.
The Ambassador said that in a generation where the youth are taking the lead with great innovations, reinvigorating the culture and tourism sector will help boost both economies with mutual benefits.
According to him: “The establishment of the sub-committee on Culture and tourism is really a milestone.
“I do believe we are doing good things now because culture and tourism mean a lot to young people. We have already embarked on a new journey of mutually beneficial cooperation and we all believe that a thousand miles begin with a single step.
“The potentials of our cooperation in the fields of culture and tourism will surely be further released and a better tomorrow must belong to us.”
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Culture, Dr Ifeoma Anyawutaku, who led Nigerian team to the signing, said the potentialities in the creative sector in Nigeria were untapped and that the new cooperation would help facilitate that.
She said Nigeria will also leverage this to diversify its economy by adequately harnessing the potentials in the culture and tourism sector.
Anyawutaku said: “While taking a cursory look at the Statutes of the sub-committee on Culture and Tourism, Nigeria, as well as China have reviewed our achievements and experiences in the cultural and tourism exchanges and cooperation.
“Under the framework of the Forum on China and Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). This evaluation and experiences will help reposition the culture and tourism sector. For the development of both countries and the reinforcement of our bilateral cooperation.”
The establishment of the sub-committee and drafting of the act was an outcome of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the foreign ministers of both countries with the aim of boosting bilateral ties.
Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi had signed the MoU on behalf of his country during his visit to Nigeria while his Nigerian counterpart, Geoffrey Onyeama signed on behalf of the Federal Government.
Nigeria, China Sign Culture and Tourism Statute
Gunmen kill five, abduct passengers in attack on Abuja–Ilesha bus in Kogi
By: Zagazola Makama
The Kogi State Police Command has confirmed that five persons were killed and several others abducted in a deadly attack on a commercial bus along the Oshokoshoko/Agbede Highway near a military checkpoint in the state.
Sources said the incident occurred at about 12:10 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 30, when heavily armed hoodlums blocked the highway and opened fire on vehicles in transit.
According to the source, an 18-seater Toyota bus with Jigawa State registration number HJA 687 YD, conveying passengers from Abuja to Ilesha, was riddled with bullets during the attack.
“Five unidentified corpses with gunshot injuries were recovered at the scene,” the source said.
The sources added that one of the passengers, identified as Naziru Aliyu, was rescued with gunshot wounds and rushed to Fisayo Hospital for treatment, while the bodies of the deceased were deposited at the Federal Teaching Hospital mortuary in Lokoja.
The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Obajana was said to have mobilised joint security teams to the area for assessment and rescue operations.
Further bush-combing and intelligence-led operations later led to the rescue of 14 additional passengers. They were identified as Qorib Akere, Hamsatu Umar, Maryam Abubakar, Alpha Abdullateef, Alpha Uammi Adamu, Sanni Yahaya, Engr. Wojuola Olajide, Ademola Ibrahim, Fidelis Ajeh, Musa Muhammed, Nehemiah Gyang, Kanini Moses and Simon Obadiah.
Some of the rescued victims sustained gunshot wounds and are currently receiving treatment at Fisayo Hospital.
The police said about four passengers from the bus are still unaccounted for.
The sources Investigation has commenced, while strategies for further rescue operations and the arrest of the perpetrators are being intensified.
The command assured residents and road users of its commitment to restore safety along the highway and bring the attackers to justice.
Gunmen kill five, abduct passengers in attack on Abuja–Ilesha bus in Kogi
Troops repel terrorist ambush attempt in Borno, neutralise one fighter
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), have engaged and repelled suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists during an ambush operation in Borno State, neutralising one fighter and recovering arms and ammunition.
Sources said that the encounter occurred at about 1:40 a.m. on Jan. 31, 2026, when the troops made contact with the terrorists.
The sources said the terrorists fled in disarray after the troops opened fire, leading to immediate exploitation of the area.
“One terrorist was neutralised. One AK-47 rifle, one magazine and 19 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition were recovered,” the sources stated.
It added that troops expended 47 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition during the engagement, with no casualties recorded on the side of the military.
Troops repel terrorist ambush attempt in Borno, neutralise one fighter
Islamic State claims attack on Niamey airport
By: Zagazola Makama
The Islamic State’s media arm, Amaq News Agency, has claimed responsibility for an overnight attack on Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey, Niger’s capital, marking a rare strike close to the heart of the city.
In a statement circulated on Friday, Amaq said fighters of the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) carried out a “surprise and coordinated” operation on the night of Jan. 29–30, targeting Air Base 101 located within the airport complex.
The group alleged that the attack caused “significant damage” and “heavy losses,” though Nigerien authorities have not released official casualty figures. Airport operations reportedly continued after the incident, while damage assessment was ongoing.
Zagazola report that the assault, which lasted several hours on the night of 28–29 January, was carried out by armed assailants mounted on motorcycles who switched off their headlights to infiltrate the city undetected.
The attackers reportedly targeted military installations co-located with the civilian airport, including drone platforms, air defense systems, and commercial aircraft belonging to Air Côte d’Ivoire and ASKY Airlines. Mortars, drones, and small arms were used in the attack.
The Nigerien Defense and Security Forces, with the support of Russian African Corps personnel, repelled the assault, sustaining four injuries among security personnel. Twenty assailants were neutralized, 11 apprehended, and several motorcycles destroyed or seized. Civilians were unharmed.
Reacting to the incident, Niger’s military leader, Gen. Abdourahamane Tiani, accused France, Benin and Côte d’Ivoire of backing the attackers, while commending Russia for its support to Niger’s defence efforts. ISIS had now came out to claim responsibility for the attack dismissing the initial claims of Niger’s Junta.
Islamic State claims attack on Niamey airport
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