Nigeria, China deepen export, energy partnership

Nigerian and Chinese business leaders have committed to deepening their bilateral trade and investment ties, with a focus on expanding collaboration in exports, artificial intelligence, healthcare, energy infrastructure, agriculture, and industrialization. This commitment follows the Nigeria-China Investment Summit 2026 held in Lagos.

The summit, organized by the Nigeria-China Investment Club, brought together Chinese government-backed investment organizations and Nigerian private sector stakeholders. The goal was to explore new investment opportunities under the theme 'Building Strategic Partnerships for Investment, Industrialization, Job Creation, and Sustainable Economic Growth Between Nigeria and China.'

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They are not marketers, they are not traders, they are not people that just want to come and sell things to Nigerians. They are interested, through the backing of their government, in seeing how private sector-led engagements between the government of China and the people of Nigeria can lead to development in these sectors. Because once these sectors are developed, the country can develop.

Dr. Chidi Uleli, President of the Nigeria-China Investment Club, highlighted that the collaboration with the China International Business Development Committee aims to drive private sector-led investments into critical Nigerian economic sectors. He noted that the Chinese organization, backed by its government, has a vast network of members, including numerous billionaire entrepreneurs with interests in infrastructure, agriculture, digital payment systems, healthcare, and renewable energy.

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One of the things that made us go to this summit is that we want to move from words to action. By the time you are through with this summit today, there are three levels of engagement. There is an engagement with the people, businesses and individuals. There is an engagement with governments. There is an engagement for everybody. Because it is private sector-led, there is not going to be bureaucracy. Once we onboard you, you immediately begin to get benefits in trade and cross-country commerce.

Uleli emphasized that the Chinese investors are focused on development rather than just selling goods. "They are interested, through the backing of their government, in seeing how private sector-led engagements between the government of China and the people of Nigeria can lead to development in these sectors," he stated. The summit's design prioritizes moving beyond discussions to create measurable partnerships and track investment commitments, aiming for direct benefits in trade and commerce without bureaucratic hurdles.

The initiative intends to accelerate Nigeria's industrial development and enhance livelihoods by channeling targeted investments into infrastructure, agriculture, digital payments, and energy. Furthermore, it aims to provide Nigerian businesses access to the extensive Chinese consumer market, with Uleli suggesting that even a small fraction of Chinese consumers could significantly boost local economies.

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If 0.001 per cent of Chinese begin to buy something from one local government alone, their budget will increase more than that of the state. You will hear things about infrastructure, agriculture, digital payments and energy. We are ready to move from words to action.