Nigeria, China Mark 55 Years of Partnership with Pledge of Deeper Ties

Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening ties with China, celebrating 55 years of diplomatic relations marked by mutual respect and shared growth. The commitment was restated at the 2026 Chinese New Year Temple Fair held at the Chinese Cultural Centre in Abuja.

“The horse symbolises strength and progress in both our cultures, reminding us that our nations share the same spirit of resilience,” said Joseph Tegbe, Director-General of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership (NCSP). He reiterated Nigeria’s firm support for the One-China Principle, describing it as the bedrock of bilateral cooperation.

The partnership has delivered tangible benefits to ordinary Nigerians in infrastructure development, agriculture, and knowledge exchange. Tegbe highlighted the newly launched National Integrated Poultry Project, a China-backed initiative with an estimated investment of one billion dollars. “When completed, the project will produce six million eggs daily, house over seven million laying birds and cultivate 60,000 hectares of maize and soybeans. This is not just about food security; it is about jobs, dignity and opportunity for Nigerians,” he stated.

Tegbe also disclosed renewed efforts to revive the Ajaokuta Steel Complex, which is expected to produce 10 million metric tonnes of steel annually when fully operational. “A revitalised Ajaokuta will transform Nigeria’s economic trajectory, power industries and position Nigeria as a manufacturing hub in Africa,” he added.

Trade volume between Nigeria and China reached 23 billion dollars in 2025, a clear evidence of a thriving and expanding partnership. “Our relationship has shifted from being trade partners to developmental partners. We are leveraging China’s industrial experience and the Belt and Road Initiative to industrialise Nigeria,” Tegbe explained.

Addressing concerns from local farmers, Tegbe assured that the poultry project would complement, not displace, existing producers by subsidising feedstock to reduce production costs. “Eighty to ninety per cent of poultry cost is feed. With 60,000 hectares dedicated to maize and soybeans, we will support existing farmers and bring prices down,” he said.

China’s Chargé d’Affaires, Zhou Hongyou, described the event as a celebration of enduring friendship between two continents. “Over the past 55 years, both sides have upheld mutual respect and win-win cooperation. China-Nigeria relations have become a model of South-South cooperation,” Zhou said. He disclosed that both countries were consulting on zero-tariff measures, expanded student exchanges, and deeper cultural collaboration.

The Counselor and Director of the China Cultural Centre, Yang Jianxing, thanked Nigerians for their continued support. “The friendship between our peoples is like one big family. Together we will continue to grow and prosper,” he said.

The colourful celebration featured martial arts displays, cultural exhibitions, and Chinese cuisine, underscoring the deepening people-to-people ties between Nigeria and China.