China-Nigeria Bilateral Agreement Needs More Clarifications – Olisa Agbakogba
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Olisa Agbakoba says he is yet to come to terms with the nature of bilateral agreements Nigeria signed with China.
The former President of the Nigerian Bar Association is also concerned that there is not enough information in the public about President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent trip to China.
He said that he would want the federal government to give more information on what the bilateral agreement signed with China entails.
Mr Agbakoba told our judicial correspondent, Shola Sholeye, that he was also worried about the legal framework surrounding some of the agreements reached.
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“I am concerned that such a complicated process was finished in one week. I’m concerned as to whether it was actually finished.
“I’m concerned about what legal framework was used because in international trade there are two frameworks; multilateral, under the WTO which this is not, or bilateral investment negotiations. So I don’t know if this is bilateral investment or simply bilateral trade.
“These are very important clarifications because they carry different consequences,” Mr Agbakoba said.
Mr Olisa Agbakoba, also criticized China for asking Nigeria not to deal with Taiwan because of their new bilateral agreement.
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“Who are they to say that to a sovereign country like Nigeria that we cannot deal with Taiwan? I find that offensive and contrary to the status of Nigeria as one that wants to occupy the seat of Africa in the Security Council,” he said.
The Senior Advocate said that there is a lot to learn from the China economy but ultimately Nigeria needs to develop a national plan.
