- Chinese Ambassador Yu Dunhai emphasized stronger China–Nigeria cooperation to develop Nigeria’s solid minerals sector and establish electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing plants.
- Both nations aim to deepen ties following a strategic partnership agreement, with a focus on local mineral processing and economic diversification.
- Nigeria welcomed lawful Chinese investments but stressed curbing illegal mining and promoting full-cycle investments from extraction to manufacturing.
The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria has highlighted the need for increased cooperation between China and Nigeria to unleash the potential in Nigeria's Solid minerals sector by establishing electric vehicle manufacturing plants in Nigeria.
The Chinese ambassador, Yu Dunhai, made these remarks during a visit to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, in his office over the weekend. Yu remarked that Nigeria is a great country with abundant natural resources and that China has continuously viewed Nigeria as a great component in its foreign policy.
Mr. Dunhai reminded me of the recent significant engagement between Presidents, Bola Tinubu, and Xi Jinping when Mr. Tinubu visited China on an official visit. During that visit, both Presidents agreed to elevate the official relations between their two countries to a comprehensive strategic partnership, which opens new avenues for collaboration.
“Chinese companies are already deeply involved in Nigeria’s mining sector, from exploration to processing. We aim to deepen this collaboration, especially in line with President Tinubu’s eight priority areas, notably economic diversification through solid minerals,” he added.
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The ambassador highlighted that both the embassy and the Chinese government consistently urge Chinese firms in Nigeria to follow laws and regulations, engage in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and comply with safety and environmental standards. He emphasized that Chinese officials maintain a strict stance against illegal mining, indicating their willingness to collaborate with the Nigerian government to ensure that alleged offenders face justice.
In his reply, Mr. Alake mentioned that Nigeria values its enduring relationship with China, recognizing that many Chinese companies function within legal and regulatory standards. Nevertheless, he voiced worries regarding the behavior of certain operators damaging China’s reputation, mentioning a recent viral clip featuring a Chinese citizen purportedly bribing local security officials. The minister also emphasized the influence of the Mining Marshals created to tackle illegal mining, stating that the initiative has signaled the proper message in the industry, increased awareness of the issue, and has thereby enhanced adherence to regulations by local and foreign players.
“For years, our minerals have been exported raw to fuel foreign industrialization. That must change. We now prioritize local processing to drive Nigeria’s development. For instance, with the abundance of lithium, we want to see local manufacturing of electric vehicles and batteries,” he said.
Mr. Alake encouraged Mr. Dunhai to motivate Chinese investors to engage in comprehensive investments—covering extraction to processing—within Nigeria. He highlighted Nigeria’s vast market and the opportunity to lessen dependence on fossil fuels by manufacturing electric vehicles.
Mr Dunhai expressed endorsement for Nigeria's local value-addition initiative, highlighting that a major focus of President Xi Jinping is advancing industrialization in Africa. He disclosed that initiatives are in progress to set up electric vehicle plants and additional manufacturing projects in Nigeria.