Chinese scientific ship ends mission in Nigeria

LAGOS - Chinese scientific research ship Dayang Yihao, or Ocean One, on Wednesday successfully ended its nine-day exploration and research mission in Nigeria's waters with Nigerian and Chinese scientists.

The ship, on it 1st Sino-Nigeria Joint Cruise, safely returned to the Apapa Harbor in Lagos, Nigeria's commercial hub, at 10:45 am, local time with hundreds of Nigerians and Chinese from all walks of life trooped to the port to welcome the crew.

The team, consisting of 81 crew from both sides conducted research mainly on the western part of Nigerian waters,  Captain Cao Yezheng told Xinhua.

"We have six Nigerian navy personnel, nine Nigerian scientists and 66 Chinese crew on board and comprehensive oceanic survey were conducted," he added.

"We were able to understand the water chemistry, understand the sea channel, the fishery condition and some other areas that needed to be touched," Cao said.

Speaking at a brief reception, Dr. Liu Xianfa, consul general of China in Lagos, said China is pleased to the fact that the Sino- Nigeria cooperation has been fruitful in critical areas of life.

"The prospects of the Chinese-Nigerian relations are bright," he added.

Also speaking, Emmanuel A. Ajao, the acting executive director of Nigerian Institute of Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR) said the successful scientific joint research program will benefit both of the two countries and the world.

In his address, Chen Lianzeng, the vice administrator for State Oceanic Administration (SOA) of China, who led a nine man delegation from Beijing, to witness the arrival of the research team, said this exercise will promote development and cooperation in other areas of marine science and technology between both countries.

He told the gathering that the exercise will further add value to the Nigerian side, noting that it will continue to promote and strengthen the existing friendly relations between Nigerian and China.

Chinese defense attache in Nigeria, Senior Col. Kang Honglin, oversea Chinese, officials from the Lagos government, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Port Authority, Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR) and Nigerian press also attended the reception on Wednesday, including the representative of the Honourable Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina.

Dayang Yihao is the only open-ocean going vessel designated and equipped for deep-sea research in China.