LAGOS — Bilateral trade between China and Nigeria exceeded $28 billion in 2025, representing a 28% year-on-year increase, while Chinese direct investment in Nigeria rose by more than 100% to a record $690 million, China’s Consul General in Lagos, Ms Yan Yuqing, said on Thursday.
Yuqing disclosed the figures at a Lagos symposium marking the 55th anniversary of the establishment of China–Nigeria diplomatic relations, alongside a briefing on China’s annual “Two Sessions” and the China–Africa people-to-people exchange year, according to a report carried by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) and a separate event notice published by the Chinese Consulate. She said China plans to further expand market access and deepen cooperation with Nigeria, with a focus on service sectors such as telecommunications, healthcare and education, as Beijing pursues what it describes as “high-standard opening-up” in 2026.
The Chinese diplomat also referenced Beijing’s planned tariff policy shift for Africa, stating that from May 1, 2026, China will implement zero-tariff treatment for imports from African partners across 100% of tariff lines, framing it as part of wider efforts to promote trade liberalisation and support reforms in the global trading system amid rising protectionism. Reuters has separately reported that China’s zero-tariff move will apply to 53 African countries with which Beijing has diplomatic relations, excluding Eswatini.
At the Lagos event, speakers also urged Nigeria to strengthen its technological base and data-driven policymaking to improve competitiveness. Dr. Adetoro Banwo of the University of Lagos highlighted China’s “AI plus” push—an approach that promotes integrating artificial intelligence across sectors such as manufacturing and agriculture—and called on Nigeria to build capacity to benefit from similar productivity gains.
The consulate said the Lagos forum brought together representatives of Nigerian think tanks, universities, media, Chinese enterprises and Chinese community groups, with organisers describing the engagement as part of efforts to deepen economic and people-to-people ties.
