The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Yu Dunhai, has said that China is ready to partner with Nigeria to develop its solid minerals sector by setting up electric vehicle factories in the country. Ambassador Dunhai made this known during a courtesy visit to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, in Abuja.
During the visit, the Chinese envoy said Nigeria is a great country with huge natural resources. He added that China considers Nigeria as a very important partner and would like to strengthen cooperation in mining, manufacturing, and industrial growth. He recalled the recent meeting between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Chinese President Xi Jinping, where both leaders agreed to upgrade their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership.
Ambassador Dunhai said the partnership will open up new areas of cooperation, especially in economic development and industrialisation. He revealed that China is planning to establish electric vehicle factories and other manufacturing projects in Nigeria. He also mentioned that many Chinese companies are already involved in Nigeria’s mining sector, from exploration to mineral processing.
The ambassador said, “We are looking forward to deeper collaboration, especially in line with President Tinubu’s economic goals, including diversification through the solid minerals sector.” He added that Chinese authorities encourage companies from China to follow Nigerian laws, observe safety and environmental rules, and carry out corporate social responsibility in host communities.
He also said China has zero tolerance for illegal mining and is ready to support Nigeria in taking action against companies or individuals that break the law. He mentioned that the Chinese government regularly advises its companies to respect Nigeria’s sovereignty and regulatory systems.
In his response, Minister Dele Alake said Nigeria is now focused on attracting serious investors who are ready to do full-cycle business—from mining to local processing—within the country. He said the time of exporting raw minerals to help develop other countries must end.
He said, “For too long, our minerals have been taken out raw to fuel foreign industries. That must stop. We now want to add value to what we produce here.” He added that Nigeria is blessed with lithium and other critical minerals, which should be processed locally to manufacture electric vehicle batteries and cars.
The minister also asked the Chinese ambassador to encourage genuine investors from China to take advantage of Nigeria’s huge market and help boost local industrial growth. He said this will also reduce the country’s dependence on fossil fuels and help the country benefit more from its natural resources.
Dr. Alake also used the opportunity to talk about the recent launch of the Mining Marshals, a special task force set up by the government to fight illegal mining activities. He said the Marshals have started creating awareness and are sending the right message to both local and foreign operators about the need to comply with regulations.
The minister however raised concerns over the activities of a few Chinese operators who are involved in illegal activities. He referred to a viral video where a Chinese national was allegedly seen offering bribes to security agents. He said such incidents, though isolated, damage the reputation of law-abiding Chinese firms.
“We appreciate the support of most Chinese companies, but a few bad eggs can spoil the image of others. We need your help to bring such people to justice,” Alake told the ambassador.
Ambassador Dunhai assured the minister of China’s cooperation and promised to continue advising Chinese companies to respect Nigeria’s laws and invest in projects that will benefit both countries.
