China has received the green light from the Nigerian government to begin establishing electric vehicle (EV) factories in Nigeria, a move expected to significantly deepen bilateral ties and support the country’s push for industrialisation and clean energy.
During a courtesy visit to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, at the weekend, the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, emphasised the strategic importance of fostering closer cooperation between both nations, particularly in harnessing Nigeria’s vast solid mineral resources.
Ambassador Dunhai expressed optimism about Nigeria’s potential, describing it as a “great country blessed with tremendous natural resources” and reaffirmed that “China has always placed Nigeria in a very pivotal position in its foreign policy”.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Minister’s Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, discussions during the visit focused on industrial collaboration, with China outlining plans to establish electric vehicle manufacturing plants in Nigeria as part of its broader investment goals.
Ambassador Dunhai recalled the recent high-level diplomatic engagement between President Bola Tinubu and Chinese President Xi Jinping during Tinubu’s State visit to China. “Both leaders agreed to elevate bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership, creating new opportunities for cooperation”, he stated.
In response, Alake reaffirmed Nigeria’s openness to credible investors, particularly those committed to value addition within the country. He called on Chinese companies to move beyond mineral extraction and invest in full-cycle operations – from mining to processing and manufacturing.
“For years, our minerals have been exported raw to fuel foreign industrialisation. That must change. We now prioritise local processing to drive Nigeria’s development. For instance, with the abundance of lithium, we want to see local manufacturing of electric vehicles and batteries”, the Minister stated.
Backing this call, Ambassador Dunhai pledged China’s support for Nigeria’s local value-addition initiative, noting that “plans are underway to establish electric vehicle factories and other manufacturing ventures in Nigeria”.
He continued, “Chinese companies are already deeply involved in Nigeria’s mining sector, from exploration to processing. We aim to deepen this collaboration, especially in line with President Tinubu’s eight priority areas, notably economic diversification through solid minerals”.
He also assured the Nigerian government of China’s commitment to ethical business practices. “The embassy and Chinese government have always admonished Chinese companies operating in Nigeria to abide by rules and regulations, implement Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and adhere to environmental and safety standards”, he said.
“We have zero-tolerance for illegal mining and are ready to work with the Nigerian government to bring suspected culprits to justice”, he further stated.
