Stakeholders have called for a deeper, more strategic partnership between Nigeria and China as both countries mark 55 years of diplomatic relations.
The call was made at the “Nigeria/China at 55 and Beyond” Dialogue held in Abuja on Wednesday and organised by the Centre for China Studies in collaboration with the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR). The event brought together diplomats, government officials, academics and students.
In his welcome address, Charles Onunaiju, Director of the Centre for China Studies, described the 55-year relationship as one of the most stable and strategically significant bilateral engagements in Nigeria’s foreign policy history. He said the anniversary provides an opportunity not only to celebrate milestones but also to assess how both countries can reposition their partnership in a rapidly changing global order.
According to him, Nigeria and China have built a relationship anchored on mutual respect, non-interference and shared development goals. He noted that the elevation of ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2024 signals a new phase that demands deeper policy coordination, stronger institutional frameworks and clearer economic objectives.
Onunaiju emphasised that Nigeria must approach the relationship with a coherent long-term strategy that aligns Chinese cooperation with national development priorities, particularly industrialisation, technology transfer and infrastructure expansion.
Also speaking, the Director-General of IPCR, Joseph Ochogwu, stressed the importance of dialogue platforms in strengthening international partnerships. He said Nigeria–China relations have grown beyond trade to encompass peacebuilding, security cooperation and multilateral engagement.
Represented by Emmanuel Mamman, Director, National Peace Academy, Ochogwu described both countries as influential actors within the Global South, stressing that their collaboration has implications for regional stability and global governance reform. He added that sustained engagement between policy institutions, research centres and diplomatic actors is essential to ensure that the partnership continues to deliver tangible benefits to citizens.
Speaking on behalf of the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Chargé d’Affaires Zhou Hongyou reaffirmed China’s commitment to deepening ties with Nigeria. He recalled that diplomatic relations were established on February 10, 1971, and have since evolved from a basic diplomatic partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Zhou said China has consistently supported Nigeria’s efforts to maintain national unity, peace and stability, while Nigeria has upheld the one-China principle and supported China on core issues. He noted that cooperation has expanded across trade, infrastructure, energy, mining, health and education.
Highlighting key projects such as the Lekki Deep Sea Port, Zungeru Hydropower Station, the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline and railway modernisation initiatives, Zhou said bilateral trade has grown significantly, reflecting the dynamism of the partnership.
He outlined four priority areas for the next phase of engagement: strengthening strategic mutual trust, advancing high-quality Belt and Road cooperation aligned with Nigeria’s development agenda, enhancing coordination in multilateral institutions such as the United Nations and BRICS, and expanding people-to-people exchanges in education, culture, youth and media.
The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, offered a personal and policy-driven perspective on the relationship, recalling that his late father, Ambassador Aminu Sanusi, was Nigeria’s first envoy to China in the early 1970s.
Sanusi reflected on China’s transformation from a largely poor country in the 1970s to a global economic powerhouse, describing its rapid poverty reduction and industrial expansion as evidence of long-term strategic planning.
Drawing from his experience as former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, he noted that Nigeria was among the first African countries to include the Chinese renminbi in its foreign reserves, a decision he said was based on anticipating China’s growing role in the global economy.
However, the Emir urged Nigeria to rethink the structure of its economic engagement with China. While acknowledging the value of infrastructure projects, he stressed that Nigeria must avoid remaining primarily a consumer market for imported goods.
“What we need is production and industrial capacity,” he said, warning that Nigeria risks losing out if Chinese manufacturers relocating from mainland China establish factories in smaller West African economies that then export to the Nigerian market under the African Continental Free Trade Area framework.
He argued that Nigeria, as the region’s largest market, should position itself as a manufacturing hub capable of attracting production facilities, generating employment and expanding exports.
Sanusi described aspects of Nigeria–China relations as “unfinished business,” calling for deliberate policies and diplomatic strategies that prioritise value addition, technology transfer and job creation.
