The Chinese government has expressed interest in strengthening its partnership with Nigeria in the solid minerals sector, including plans to establish electric vehicle (EV) factories, as effort to promote industrialisation, according to the Nigerian Ministry of Solid Minerals Development.
According to a statement issued by Segun Tomori, Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, on Sunday, during a courtesy visit to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Alake, at the weekend, the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, underscored the need for enhanced cooperation between both countries to unlock the potential of Nigeria’s mineral resources through industrial investment.
Dunhai described Nigeria as "a great country blessed with tremendous natural resources," adding that "China has always placed Nigeria in a very pivotal position of her foreign policy."
He recalled the recent meeting between President Bola Tinubu and Chinese President Xi Jinping during Tinubu’s state visit to China, noting that both leaders agreed to upgrade relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership.
“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 said.
Dunhai emphasised that the Chinese government has consistently instructed Chinese companies operating in Nigeria to comply with local laws and standards, including Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and environmental and safety regulations.Nigerian fashion
He also declared Beijing’s firm stance on illegal activities, saying the embassy and the 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 stressed that the Chinese authorities have zero tolerance for illegal mining, signifying their readiness to work with the Nigerian government to bring suspected culprits to justice.
In response, Alake reaffirmed Nigeria’s appreciation of its long-standing relationship with China and acknowledged that many Chinese companies operate within the country’s legal and regulatory frameworks. However, he voiced concern over the conduct of some operators, referencing a recent viral video implicating a Chinese national in bribery.
“We've taken action against illegal operators, including some Chinese nationals. While isolated, such incidents undermine the good work of many compliant Chinese firms. We need your cooperation in ensuring that such culprits are brought to justice,” the minister asserted.Nigerian fashion
Alake also spoke about the successes recorded through the recently launched Mining Marshals initiative aimed at curbing illegal mining activities.
He noted that the special task force had sent "the right signal in the sector," significantly raising awareness and boosting compliance among local and foreign operators.
Reiterating the Nigerian government’s emphasis on value addition, the minister stressed that the era of exporting raw minerals was over.
“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,” he said.
Alake further urged Ambassador Dunhai to encourage more Chinese investors to pursue full-cycle investments—spanning extraction to processing—within Nigeria, pointing to the country’s large consumer base and commitment to clean energy transition.
In his final remarks, the ambassador expressed China’s support for Nigeria’s local value-addition agenda, aligning it with one of President Xi Jinping’s major goals: the promotion of African industrialisation.
According to the statement, he added that plans are underway to establish electric vehicle factories and other manufacturing ventures in Nigeria.
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