Precious Nwonu, Enugu
The Federal Government has said stronger collaboration with China in the power sector will support efforts to improve electricity supply, expand renewable energy and promote the local production of power equipment in Nigeria.
The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, stated this in Abuja on Wednesday night during a reception to commemorate the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
Tegbe said Chinese investment in Nigeria would have a greater and more sustainable impact if it also contributed to the development of local technical expertise and strengthened Nigerian businesses.
According to him, cooperation between both countries should not only focus on financing and infrastructure but also on equipping Nigerian engineers and technicians with the skills required to operate and maintain power facilities built in the country.
“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,” Tegbe said.
He said Nigeria-China relations had evolved from diplomatic ties into a broad partnership spanning infrastructure, healthcare, technical exchanges, trade and investment.
Nigeria and China established diplomatic relations on February 10, 1971, while the relationship was elevated to a comprehensive strategic partnership by President Bola Tinubu and Chinese President Xi Jinping in September 2024.
Tegbe, who also serves as Director General of the Nigerian-China Strategic Partnership, acknowledged China’s role in financing, engineering and investing in major Nigerian projects, including the Lekki Deep Seaport, railway modernisation projects and the Zungeru Hydropower Station.
He also praised China’s development in manufacturing, science, high-speed rail and clean energy, describing its transformation as remarkable.
The minister further highlighted China’s zero-tariff programme for African countries, saying it could create opportunities for Nigerian producers and help increase the country’s exports to the Chinese market.
He said bilateral trade between Nigeria and China stood at $28bn at the end of 2025, while trade in the first half of 2026 had reached $17bn.
Tegbe, however, said Nigeria needed to move beyond increasing trade volumes by boosting domestic production and exports to China.
“Our shared task is to translate that access into stronger Nigerian production and Nigerian exports to China, with benefits that will endure both economies,” he said.
The minister also reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the One-China principle, stating that the Federal Government recognised the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal government representing China.
The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, said relations between both countries had entered what he described as “the fast lane” under the leadership of Presidents Xi Jinping and Tinubu.
Dunhai said bilateral economic cooperation had continued to expand, pointing to recent agreements on economic partnership and aquatic exports as measures that could provide further institutional support for trade.
He said trade between the two countries reached $18bn in the first half of 2026, representing a 35 per cent increase, while Chinese imports from Nigeria rose by 81 per cent.
The ambassador said China was prepared to align its 15th Five-Year Plan with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in industrialisation, digital development and the green and blue economies.
“Our future cooperation holds boundless potential. China stands ready to align its 15th Five-Year Plan with President Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope’ Agenda across industrialisation, digital, green, and blue economies,” he said.
Dunhai also invited Nigeria to join the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation, saying participation would give the country an opportunity to contribute to and benefit from developments in global artificial intelligence.
He noted that China’s zero-tariff policy covering 53 African countries, which commenced on May 1, had contributed to a 24 per cent rise in China’s imports from Africa during May and June.
According to him, Chinese innovations in artificial intelligence, digital payments and solar energy were also helping African countries address development challenges.
Dunhai said Nigeria and China, which are marking 55 years of diplomatic relations, should continue to strengthen their partnership through mutual respect, shared development and practical cooperation.
“Those who walk the same path go far. Let us empower development through innovation, openness, and sincere cooperation to continuously enrich China-Nigeria friendship and write a new chapter in China-Africa relations,” he said.
