President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has restated the Federal Government’s strong commitment to its strategic partnership with China, saying the collaboration is essential to Nigeria’s industrialisation drive and broader economic transformation agenda.
The President made this known on Monday during a meeting with the Director-General and Global Liaison of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership (NCSP), Senator Joseph Tegbe, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. He assured that Nigeria remains fully committed to sustaining and deepening its investment relationship with China.
Describing the NCSP as a “key pillar of Nigeria’s foreign and economic policy,” Tinubu emphasised that the partnership is particularly crucial in key areas such as trade, infrastructure, energy, and human capital development. He said his administration will continue to leverage Nigeria’s ties with China to attract investment and fast-track the country’s development.
According to a statement released after the meeting, the Nigeria-China comprehensive strategic partnership agreement was jointly signed by Tinubu and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The deal aims to strengthen bilateral cooperation and increase Chinese investment in Nigeria.
Senator Tegbe briefed President Tinubu on recent developments, saying the partnership has already recorded “significant progress” in discussions with Chinese government officials and private investors. He highlighted targeted investments being pursued in infrastructure, manufacturing, technology, agriculture, healthcare, education, and mineral development.
“We have been working to attract targeted investments into critical sectors of Nigeria’s economy,” Tegbe stated.
President Tinubu praised the NCSP team for aligning international collaboration with the government’s development priorities. He expressed confidence in Senator Tegbe’s leadership and urged the NCSP to fast-track the execution of key initiatives.
“Now is the time to begin delivering real and measurable benefits to our people. These foreign partnerships must translate into tangible results,” the President declared.
China remains one of Nigeria’s most significant foreign trade and investment partners. Over the past two decades, Chinese companies have financed and executed major infrastructure projects in Nigeria, including railways, roads, airports, and power plants.
The Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership initiative aims to deepen this relationship beyond infrastructure to include knowledge transfer, industrial development, and support for small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs).
Analysts say the reaffirmation of this alliance is a signal to the global investment community that Nigeria is keen on attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) to boost local productivity and create jobs. However, they caution that beyond high-level engagements, the Federal Government must address local structural issues—such as security, policy inconsistency, and poor regulatory environment—that often deter foreign investors.
For now, President Tinubu’s assurance is expected to energise ongoing engagements with China and open fresh conversations with other potential strategic partners interested in the Nigerian economy.
