Power Minister calls for swift implementation of Nigeria-China aquatic products protocol

Nigeria's Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has urged stakeholders to swiftly implement a newly signed Nigeria-China Aquatic Products Protocol, emphasizing its potential to drive exports, increase foreign exchange, and create new business opportunities. The protocol grants eligible Nigerian aquatic products duty-free access to China's vast market of 1.4 billion consumers.

The agreement, finalized after nearly five years of negotiations, was celebrated during a reception for the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai. Minister Tegbe highlighted the significant growth in bilateral trade, which reached $18 billion in the first half of 2026, compared to $28 billion for the entirety of 2025. He sees the aquatic products protocol as a catalyst for further economic integration, including a proposed Zero Tariff Agreement for African countries.

Ambassador Yu reaffirmed China's commitment to supporting the protocol's implementation and facilitating market entry for Nigerian products. He pointed to a 35% increase in bilateral trade and an 80% rise in Nigerian exports in the first half of 2026 as evidence of the strong potential for economic cooperation. The Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) also pledged its support to exporters, with its Comptroller-General, Dr. Vincent Isegbe, suggesting the protocol could open doors for other Nigerian agricultural and fishery products.

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The meeting in Paris will therefore not be valued