Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening its strategic bilateral trade and economic partnership with the People’s Republic of China, reflecting positively on the significant progress recorded in relations between both countries throughout 2025. The reaffirmation comes as data reveals that bilateral trade between the two nations has reached unprecedented levels, cementing China’s position as one of Nigeria’s most important economic partners.
The deepening relationship follows the historic elevation of Nigeria-China relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, agreed upon by President Bola Tinubu and Chinese President Xi Jinping during President Tinubu’s state visit to China in September 2024. The summit, which preceded the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), marked a watershed moment in the over five-decade diplomatic relationship between both nations.
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Record-Breaking Trade and Investment Figures
The economic impact of the enhanced partnership has been substantial. According to the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, bilateral trade in the first ten months of 2025 reached $22.3 billion, surpassing the total trade volume of 2024 and representing a year-on-year increase of over 30 percent. This remarkable growth demonstrates the strong resilience and broad prospects of economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.
Chinese direct investment in Nigeria has also witnessed exponential growth. Investment figures for 2025 reached $670 million, representing an increase of 130 percent year-on-year, demonstrating heightened investor confidence in Nigeria’s economic reform agenda under President Tinubu’s administration. These investments have been channeled across various sectors including infrastructure, manufacturing, technology, and energy.
The partnership has also delivered tangible benefits at the community level. Chinese diplomatic and consular missions in Nigeria introduced visa facilitation measures, including online applications, exemption from fingerprint collection, and fee reductions. Over 55,000 visas were processed throughout 2025, representing an increase of nearly 45 percent in visa services compared to the preceding year.
The September 2024 Summit: A New Chapter
The foundation for the current momentum was laid during President Tinubu’s landmark state visit to Beijing in September 2024. During bilateral talks at the Great Hall of the People, both presidents witnessed the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding covering critical areas of cooperation.
These agreements included a cooperation plan for jointly promoting the Belt and Road Initiative, a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the peaceful application of nuclear energy, an agreement on strengthening cooperation on human resource development under the Global Development Initiative, and memoranda on media exchange and cooperation between China Media Group and the Nigerian Television Authority.
The two heads of state also issued a Joint Statement on Establishing a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and Building a High-Level China-Nigeria Community with a Shared Future, outlining the vision for enhanced cooperation across all sectors. President Xi noted that both countries stood at a new historical starting point as significant representatives of major developing countries and emerging economies, with their strengthened strategic cooperation poised to propel new dynamics for China-Africa relations.
During the visit, President Tinubu emphasised Nigeria’s commitment to economic reforms, stating that trading and investment partners would have easy access to bring in their investments and seamlessly take their resources out. President Xi praised Nigeria as a major and highly influential African country with a large population and great development potential, noting that both countries have always respected each other and treated each other as equals since the establishment of diplomatic relations more than half a century ago.
Infrastructure Development: Railways and Beyond
One of the most significant areas of cooperation has been infrastructure development, particularly in the railway sector. During his Beijing visit, President Tinubu visited the China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC), where he acknowledged the company’s role as a reliable partner in Nigeria’s infrastructure development programme.
CRCC has been instrumental in Nigeria’s railway modernisation. The company has been involved in Nigeria for 43 years, implementing over 300 projects and training over 100,000 local workers. The Abuja-Kaduna Railway and Lagos-Ibadan Railway have transported approximately nine million passengers and 180 tonnes of cargo, while the Lagos Blue Line has transported over 1.6 million passengers.
President Tinubu assured the CRCC leadership that the Ibadan-Abuja-Kaduna-Kano railway segments would be completed to the satisfaction of Nigeria and West Africa at large. The Kano-Kaduna Railway Project has secured full financing disbursement, with over half of the construction already completed, laying a solid foundation for enhancing Nigeria’s transport connectivity and promoting regional economic integration.
CRCC’s investment in Nigeria stands at $13.30 billion, making it one of the largest Chinese infrastructure investments in sub-Saharan Africa. The company’s projects include the Kaduna to Kano Railway, the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the Nigerian Eastern Railway, and various urban rail projects.
In May 2025, the Federal Executive Council approved a $652 million financing facility from China Exim Bank for the construction of a road corridor connecting the Lekki Deep Sea Port and Dangote Refinery complex to multiple southern Nigerian states. This road infrastructure will strengthen Nigeria’s logistics value chain, boost trade efficiency, and support industrial growth across the region.
The Lekki Deep Sea Port and Free Trade Zone
The Lekki Deep Sea Port, constructed by China Harbour Engineering Company Limited (CHEC), represents one of the most significant Chinese investments in Nigeria’s maritime infrastructure. The $1.5 billion facility, which opened in 2023, is jointly owned by CHEC, Tolaram Group, the Lagos State Government, and the Nigerian Ports Authority.
As the first multi-purpose deep sea port in Nigeria and the deepest in West Africa, the Lekki Port has a capacity to handle over 2.7 million twenty-foot equivalent units annually. The port’s impact on Nigeria’s economy is projected to be transformative, expected to generate approximately $205 billion in economic activity over its operational lifetime.
The Lekki Free Zone Development Company, a joint venture between China-Africa Lekki Investment Ltd and the Lagos State Government, has witnessed a surge in investor confidence in 2025. According to the zone’s Managing Director, 16 new flagship investors joined between January and October 2025, leading to the sale of over 120 hectares of land—the highest annual record in the zone’s history. As of June 2025, 134 enterprises had signed investment agreements, with 65 currently in operation and 10 more under construction.
The Greater Abuja Water Supply Project, funded through Chinese cooperation, has been successfully completed, effectively addressing safe water access for nearly three million residents in Abuja and significantly improving local living conditions.
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Industrial Development: The Brass Industrial Park Agreement
A landmark achievement of the partnership was the signing of a $3.3 billion agreement to develop the Brass Industrial Park and Methanol Complex during the 2024 FOCAC summit. This transformative project, located on Brass Island in Bayelsa State, is expected to significantly boost Nigeria’s industrial output and generate vital employment opportunities.
The agreement was signed between China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) and Brass Fertilizer and Petrochemical Company Ltd, with Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, witnessing the ceremony. The project includes the Brass Industrial Park, gas gathering pipelines and associated facilities, and the Methanol Complex Project.
Located on a 667.5-hectare site at the eastern end of Brass Island, the development is set to become one of the world’s largest centres for petrochemical, fertilizer, refinery, and hydrocarbon processing industries. The construction phase is expected to create 30,000 direct and indirect jobs, with an additional 5,000 permanent positions during the operations phase.
The project aligns with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for driving industrial growth and energy security. Investments in the Brass Oil and Gas City have already reached $3.5 billion, aimed at creating a globally competitive, export-oriented oil and gas processing hub in Nigeria.
Technology Transfer and Digital Cooperation
The technology dimension of the Nigeria-China partnership has witnessed significant developments. During his Beijing visit, President Tinubu visited Huawei Technologies’ Beijing Research Centre, where the company announced the launch of DigiTruck, a mobile ICT classroom aimed at enhancing digital literacy in underserved Nigerian communities.
Huawei committed to operating the DigiTruck initiative in 10 Nigerian states annually, training at least 3,000 students each year. The initiative complements Nigeria’s Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy’s programme to train three million technical talents (3MTT) and equip the country’s young population with skills necessary for present and future economic opportunities.
During the tour of Huawei’s Research Centre, President Tinubu and his delegation were introduced to the company’s latest innovations in e-government, smart education, smart grid, and solar power systems. Huawei also announced plans to establish a joint PV test lab with Nigeria’s Rural Electrification Agency (REA) to support Nigeria’s clean energy transition.
The Chinese government also awarded over 17,000 scholarships to Nigerian students in 2024 to help them acquire necessary skills for the job market, alongside Confucius Institute scholarships designed to promote understanding of Chinese culture. Several Nigerian universities, including Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Bayero University Kano, and the University of Lagos, now offer Chinese language degree programmes.
High-Level Diplomatic Engagements in 2025
The year 2025 witnessed intensified diplomatic exchanges between Nigeria and China. In January 2025, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made Nigeria the first stop of his 35th consecutive annual visit to Africa, meeting with President Tinubu and holding talks with Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar.
The visit was particularly significant as it marked the 25th anniversary of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and the beginning of implementing outcomes from the FOCAC Beijing Summit. Chinese Ambassador Yu Dunhai noted that the visit achieved three outstanding outcomes: a new leap in the positioning of relations, a new platform created through solidarity and collaboration, and a new height in international cooperation.
The two foreign ministers met three times during 2025, including meetings in Rio de Janeiro in April and Changsha in June on the sidelines of the Coordinators’ Meeting on the Implementation of the Follow-up Actions of FOCAC. Nigerian Foreign Minister Tuggar reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the One-China principle and expressed appreciation for China’s support for Nigeria’s economic and social development.
Other significant exchanges included former Nigerian Minister of Defence Mohammed Badaru’s attendance at the Beijing Xiangshan Forum, where he delivered a keynote speech and engaged with Chinese and foreign military leaders. Nigeria’s House of Representatives Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, led a high-level delegation to the 8th China International Import Expo (CIIE) and held talks with Chinese Premier Li Qiang.
The One-China Principle and Diplomatic Foundation
Nigeria has reiterated that its relationship with China remains guided by its longstanding foreign policy principles, particularly respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, and adherence to international norms. In this context, Nigeria continues to firmly uphold the One-China principle as the foundation of its diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China.
During their 2025 meetings, Nigerian Foreign Minister Tuggar expressed that Nigeria will continue to firmly abide by the One-China principle, noting that the diplomatic philosophies of Nigeria and China are highly consistent. Nigeria has also expressed support for China’s efforts in achieving national reunification and its role on the world stage.
The Joint Statement issued during President Tinubu’s 2024 visit affirmed that both sides pledge to support each other’s efforts in multilateral affairs, including the UN, the G20, and BRICS. They also agreed to support increased calls for UN Security Council reforms with balanced geographical representation to reflect current geopolitical realities.
Security and Military Cooperation
Beyond economic ties, security cooperation has become an increasingly important dimension of the Nigeria-China partnership. China has pledged to support Nigeria in fighting terrorism, maintaining regional stability, and playing a bigger role in international and regional affairs.
According to Ambassador Yu, the number of Nigerian military personnel participating in training programmes in Chinese institutions nearly doubled in 2025. Chinese delegations visited Nigeria to attend the African Air Forces Forum and met with Nigerian Air Force leadership to strengthen consultations on promoting exchanges between the two nations’ air forces.
China has also expressed willingness to leverage the 70th anniversary of the Nigerian Navy to promote professional interactions between the two navies and welcome more Nigerian officers to study at Chinese military institutions.
Looking Ahead to 2026
Looking ahead to 2026, Nigeria has expressed its commitment to consolidating and deepening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in practical and results-oriented ways. Priority areas include economic diversification, infrastructure delivery, human capital development, technology transfer, and long-term sustainability, all of which align with Nigeria’s national development objectives.
The implementation of the FOCAC Beijing Action Plan (2025-2027) will see both countries working together on 10 partnership initiatives covering civilisation exchanges, trade prosperity, industrial chain cooperation, connectivity, development cooperation, healthcare, rural revitalisation, people-to-people exchanges, green development, and common security.
Commenting on the evolving partnership, the Director-General and Global Liaison of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership, Mr Joseph Tegbe, expressed confidence that bilateral cooperation would continue to mature and deliver enduring outcomes. He noted that the partnership is expected to advance the shared vision of building a China-Nigeria community with a shared future, driven by inclusive growth, mutual prosperity, and strengthened diplomatic ties.
As Ambassador Yu Dunhai observed, following President Tinubu’s state visit to China, the growth of the China-Nigeria Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has entered a “fast lane,” with all-round cooperation between the two countries yielding remarkable outcomes and delivering tangible benefits to their peoples.
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By: Montel Kamau
Serrari Financial Analyst
6th January, 2026
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