Reports have verified that three Chinese military ships are currently in Nigeria on an isolated visit which officials expect will help improve maritime security.
The arrival of the naval fleet – led by a destroyer – is coming six months after a recently developed billion-dollar deep sea port was opened in Lagos State.
The deep sea pot had been built by the Chinese and China has retained a major shareholding in the company running the facility.
Experts have meanwhile remarked that the port and the naval visiting the country were major signs of China’s expanding presence in Africa.
Recall that Nigeria is a major oil supplier to the Republic of China.
In the words of China’s ambassador to Nigeria, Cui Jianchun, the event was a major move in China-Nigeria relations as it demonstrates the high degree of political mutual trust between the two countries.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Navy headed by Rear Admiral JD Akpan has expressed their willingness to work with China to confront maritime security threats and keep the stability in the Gulf of Guinea.
In 2017, China had first opened its overseas naval base in Djibouti on the East African coast in 2017.
Noteworthy to also mention is the fact that the US defence officials had raised concerns that America’s national security could be under attack if the Chinese successfully sets up a military base on the West African coastline.
