China is set to ramp up its investment in Nigeria’s mining and industrial sectors, with plans underway to establish electric vehicle (EV) factories and expand collaboration in solid minerals development. This was revealed by Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, during a courtesy visit to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, over the weekend.
Ambassador Dunhai highlighted Nigeria’s importance in China’s foreign policy and reaffirmed his country’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s economic diversification efforts, particularly in the mining sector. He noted that Chinese firms are already active across the value chain, from exploration to mineral processing.
“Nigeria is a great country with abundant natural resources,” said Dunhai. “Chinese companies are already involved in mining here, and we want to deepen this cooperation in line with President Tinubu’s economic agenda, especially on solid minerals.”
He referenced the recent meeting between President Bola Tinubu and President Xi Jinping, where both leaders agreed to elevate bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership. According to Dunhai, this new level of engagement will unlock fresh opportunities in trade, investment, and technology transfer.
On the issue of regulatory compliance, the ambassador assured the Nigerian government of Beijing’s commitment to responsible and legal business practices. He emphasised that the Chinese government maintains zero tolerance for illegal mining and urges all Chinese firms operating in Nigeria to comply fully with environmental, safety, and corporate social responsibility standards.
“The Chinese government is ready to work with Nigerian authorities to prosecute illegal operators. We have always advised our companies to follow local laws and respect the communities they operate in,” he added.
Responding, Minister Dele Alake praised the longstanding economic relationship between both countries but voiced concern over the misconduct of a few Chinese operators. He pointed to a recent viral video showing a Chinese national allegedly bribing security officials, calling it a stain on the otherwise productive partnership.
“While most Chinese firms are compliant, the actions of a few bad actors create unnecessary tensions,” Alake said. “We are committed to clamping down on illegal mining, including by foreign nationals, and we count on your support to ensure violators face the law.”
Alake also outlined the Nigerian government’s efforts to sanitise the sector, including the introduction of Mining Marshals to tackle illegal mining. He reiterated the administration’s focus on local value addition and reducing the export of raw minerals, particularly lithium.
“For decades, our raw minerals have been exported to fuel foreign industries. That era is ending. Our focus is now on domestic processing to drive industrialisation,” Alake said. “We want to see full-cycle investments—extraction, processing, and manufacturing—within Nigeria.”
The minister called on the Chinese ambassador to encourage investors from China to align with this vision by establishing manufacturing hubs, especially in battery and EV production.
In his closing remarks, Ambassador Dunhai said China supports Nigeria’s value-addition strategy and disclosed that plans are already in motion to set up electric vehicle factories and related manufacturing ventures. He noted that this initiative aligns with President Xi Jinping’s broader push to support African industrialisation.
