China’s zero-tariff offer, opportunity for Nigeria to diversify export, increase production – Agric Minister

By Ochiaka Ugwu

Nigerian Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi has said that China’s zero-tariff treatment on 100 percent of tariff lines for 53 African Countries offers Nigeria ample opportunities to diversify exports beyond crude oil, and accelerate its journey towards value-added production and agro-industrial development.

Abdullahi who made this known at an international seminar held in Abuja Friday themed: “China’s Zero-Tariff Treatment on 100% of Tariff Lines for African Countries and its implications for Structural Economic Transformation in Africa” organized by Centre for China Studies said offer of zero tariff from China represents more than preferential market access, but sends a powerful message that Africa was increasingly becoming an indispensable partner in global trade, manufacturing and agricultural development.

He said for decades, Nigeria had largely exported raw commodities, and importing finished products at premium prices.

While noting the pattern had constrained industrial growth, limited job creation and exposed Nigeria’s economy to volatile commodity markets, Abdullahi stated that China’s Zero Tariff Initiative presents Nigeria with an opportunity to rewrite that narrative.

Abdullahi who congratulated Chinese Ambassador for his effort in promoting relations and for the signing ceremony with National Agricultural Quarantine Service on this zero-tariff subject matter said Nigeria was glad and happy for the unilateral offer by China.

He said the move has opened a new chapter of China-Africa economic relations, maintaining that China making the offer was a testament to the confidence Chinese government has in dealing with African countries.

Also speaking, Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Amb. Yu Dunhai who said the initiative marks a strategic milestone in building a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future and advancing their joint vision for modernization, informed that the policy’s benefits were already clearly visible within three and half months of taking effect.

He said that in the first half of 2026, China-Africa trade hit a historic high of $207 billion, stating that from May to June alone, Chinese imports from Africa reached $29 billion—a 24% year-on-year increase.

“Estimates show that the zero-tariff policy has boosted overall African exports to China by roughly 6%. Nigeria’s performance has been especially striking: total bilateral trade reached $18 billion in the first half of the year, up 35% year-on-year, while Chinese imports from Nigeria surged 80% to $2.3 billion, with monthly growth exceeding 40% in both May and June” he said.

Permanent Secretary of Nigerian Foreign Ministry, Dr. Dunoma Umar Ahmed stated that the decision by China to expand preferential market access to African countries presents a significant opportunity for strengthening Africa-China economic relations and promoting greater integration of African economies into global value chain.

Director of Centre for China Studies, Charles Onunaiju in his Opening Remarks noted that as the structure of trade was evolving and maturing, Africa needs to seize the moment and overcome critical internal constraints that constitute non-tariff barriers to fully leverage the unique China’s preferential market access.

He also expressed optimism that unlocking the regional value chain through the mechanism of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) would burnish standards, harmonize custom arrangement and create the ecosystem of an integrated economy of scale.

The seminar was attended by critical stakeholders from across Africa including representative of manufactures, traders, farmers, exporters entrepreneurs organizations along with critical state institutions- Customs, Financial, Industrial and Agricultural Institutions with all giving practical effects to the full measures of the opportunity of China zero-tariff treatment.