Nigeria’s Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, has dismissed claims that the Nigerian government mortgaged any infrastructure to secure loans from China. Speaking at the 6th Annual East African Transport Infrastructure Conference in Nairobi, Kenya, Amaechi clarified that Nigeria has the ability to repay its loans without offering such security.
Responding to reports that countries like Kenya, Sri Lanka, and Somalia risk forfeiting their infrastructure to China due to unpaid debts, Amaechi emphasized that Nigeria’s repayment agreement with China does not include any such terms. “We don’t have problems with repaying our loans, and there is no plan for China to take over our seaports, railways, or airports,” he stated.
Amaechi highlighted that the focus should be on efficiently running Nigeria’s infrastructure to ensure loan repayments, noting that China remains a reliable source for funding large-scale projects. He added, “If you don’t go to China, who will give you money? Even countries like America and Russia borrow from China.”
Amaechi also addressed misconceptions about Nigeria’s railways, explaining that while passenger fares alone cannot generate enough revenue, the real financial benefit will come from transferring goods from road to rail transport. This, he said, is key to decongesting the Apapa seaport and generating income to pay off debts.
