Nigeria has called for deeper cooperation with China in achieving reliable electricity, developing renewable energy and manufacturing power equipment locally.
Minister of Power and Director-General of the Nigeria-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, Joseph Tegbe, made the call on Wednesday in Abuja at a reception organized by the Chinese Embassy to mark the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
The event attracted Chinese Embassy officials, Nigerian government officials, members of the diplomatic community, business leaders and journalists.
Tegbe said Nigeria saw significant potential for expanded cooperation with China in the power sector, particularly in electricity supply, renewable energy and the local manufacture of power equipment.
“As Minister of Power, I see particular promise in deeper cooperation on achieving reliable electricity, renewable energy, and manufacture of power equipment in Nigeria with our cooperation with China,” he said.
He stressed that Chinese investment should also contribute to developing Nigerian engineers and technicians and strengthening local enterprises capable of operating and maintaining infrastructure built in the country. According to him, such an approach would help build lasting national capabilities and ensure that cooperation delivers sustainable benefits for Nigeria.
Tegbe commended China’s contributions to Nigeria’s infrastructure development, citing projects including the Lekki Deep Sea Port, railway modernization and the Zungeru Hydropower Station. He also acknowledged China’s cooperation with Nigeria in healthcare, people-to-people exchanges and technical training.
The minister further welcomed China’s zero-tariff programme for African countries, saying it offered significant opportunities for Nigerian producers.
He noted that Nigeria and China had recently signed agreements covering the export of aquatic products to China, describing increased Nigerian access to the Chinese market as an opportunity to expand domestic production and exports.
Tegbe reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the One-China principle and said the country’s relationship with China was based on mutual respect and sovereign equality.
Speaking at the event, Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, said China was ready to deepen cooperation with Nigeria across industrialisation, digital development, and the green and blue economies.
Yu said China was prepared to align its 15th Five-Year Plan with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, describing the future of China-Nigeria cooperation as having “boundless potential.”
The ambassador also disclosed that bilateral trade reached $18 billion in the first half of 2026, representing a 35 per cent increase, while Chinese imports from Nigeria surged by 81 per cent.
He said China’s implementation of zero-tariff treatment for 53 African countries from May 1 had created new opportunities for African exporters, with China’s imports from Africa increasing by 24 per cent in May and June. Yu said the policy could help African countries transform their resource advantages into industrial strength and support greater economic integration.
Nigeria and China established diplomatic relations in 1971, while their bilateral relations were elevated to a comprehensive strategic partnership in September 2024.
