Highlights:

• $20 billion in investment pledged by Chinese firms for agriculture, mining, automotive, steel, and energy sectors.
• Projects aim to support food security, job creation, and Nigeria’s industrial transformation.
• Partnership also targets increased Nigerian exports to China and high-value supply chain development.

Nigeria is banking on Chinese financing, technology, and industrial expertise to fast-track its economic transformation. On Friday, July 18, 2025, Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, Director General of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership (NCSP), announced that recent missions to China had secured investment commitments exceeding $20 billion across multiple strategic sectors.

Speaking at a press conference, Tegbe revealed that the new investment pledges from Chinese companies will be directed toward agriculture, automotive production, mining, steel manufacturing, and energy. These initiatives, he noted, are scheduled to begin implementation this year and are designed to support Nigeria’s goals for food security, job creation, and industrial renaissance.

“These investments will not only revitalize critical sectors but also provide the technological and financial infrastructure needed for Nigeria’s industrial leap,” Tegbe said.

The Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership was established within the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) to deepen bilateral collaboration. As part of this broader effort, the partnership is also working to expand Nigerian access to Chinese markets, diversify Nigeria’s export base, and build integrated, high-value-added supply chains.

China is already one of Nigeria’s largest trading partners, with bilateral trade reaching $12.6 billion in 2023, according to International Trade Centre data. Nigeria’s exports to China are currently dominated by crude oil and agricultural commodities, while imports are primarily manufactured goods.

Officials hope that this new round of industrial-focused investment will mark a turning point in shifting Nigeria’s economic model from resource dependence to value-added production and regional export competitiveness.

This article was initially published in French by Walid Kéfi

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho