China-Nigeria economic and diplomatic relations

China and Nigeria are expanding their economic and diplomatic cooperation through development grants, trade protocols, and cultural exchange.

Initially, China pledged a grant of RMB200 million (approximately 40.3 billion naira) to support Nigerian national development and economic growth priorities. This period also saw the implementation of the Nigeria-China Aquatic Products Protocol, which grants zero-tariff access to the Chinese market for eligible Nigerian aquatic products.

Building on this momentum, the two nations utilized culinary diplomacy during the ‘From Farm to Feast’ festival in Abuja to mark 55 years of diplomatic ties. Chinese Chargé d’Affaires Zhou Hongyou noted that bilateral trade reached $18 billion in the first half of the year, a 35 percent year-on-year increase. He highlighted that China imported approximately $2.3 billion worth of goods from Nigeria during this period, an 80 percent increase from the previous year. Chinese officials reaffirmed a zero-tariff policy for African nations to encourage Nigerian exports and expressed intent to follow the outcomes of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing Summit and the Global Civilization Initiative.

Recent data from Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics shows China’s market share of Nigeria’s total imports rose to 39.27% in the first half of 2026, totaling N11.01 trillion. While imports such as solar panels and telecommunications equipment have increased, a significant trade imbalance persists, with Nigeria exporting only N1.09 trillion to China, resulting in a N9.92 trillion deficit. Additionally, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has raised concerns regarding Chinese-linked counterfeiters using local logistics firms to distribute fake goods in Nigeria.