The Chinese government has approved a ¥200 million grant to Nigeria to support the implementation of development projects agreed upon by both countries.
The disclosure was made during a meeting between the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr Dunoma Umar Ahmed, on Thursday.
The Chinese Embassy in Nigeria announced the development in a statement published on its X page.
The grant, valued at approximately N40.32 billion based on the Central Bank of Nigeria’s exchange rate, is intended to support Nigeria’s development and economic growth.
Ambassador Yu said China and Nigeria had maintained strong bilateral relations for 55 years since establishing diplomatic ties.
He said the relationship had remained an important part of China-Africa relations and had entered a new stage of development under the strategic guidance of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“China will provide RMB 200 million in grant assistance to Nigeria for the implementation of projects agreed upon by the two governments,” the statement quoted the ambassador as saying.
According to Yu, both countries have maintained close communication and coordination while working to implement agreements reached by their respective heads of state.
He added that China and Nigeria were also working to implement the outcomes of the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Beijing Summit.
The initiative is aimed at ensuring that the benefits of bilateral cooperation translate into tangible gains for citizens in both countries.
However, the Chinese government did not disclose the specific development projects that will be financed with the grant.
The funding forms part of China’s broader development support for Nigeria as both countries seek to deepen their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Dr Dunoma Umar Ahmed thanked the Chinese government for its continued support for Nigeria’s economic and social development.
He said the grant demonstrated China’s commitment to Nigeria and reflected the longstanding friendship between the two countries.
The Permanent Secretary assured the Chinese government that Nigeria would ensure the grant was effectively utilised for the agreed projects.
He added that Nigeria would continue working with China to implement the common understandings reached by both governments on bilateral cooperation.
According to Ahmed, the cooperation is expected to further strengthen Nigeria-China relations and deliver greater benefits to citizens.
China’s economic relationship with Nigeria extends beyond trade, with Beijing maintaining significant development, infrastructure and energy interests in the country.
In August 2025, the Chinese government donated $1 million to support communities affected by devastating floods across Nigeria.
Nigeria also recorded an estimated $24.6 billion in Chinese Belt and Road Initiative construction contracts in 2025, according to a report by China energy expert Christoph Nedopil of Griffith University.
The figure represented a 13-fold increase from the previous year and was the highest recorded by any country that year.
About $20 billion of the total was attributed to the proposed Ogidigben Gas Revolution Industrial Park in Delta State, following a contract awarded to China National Chemical Engineering.
The report estimated Nigeria’s cumulative energy-related engagement with China at about $28 billion since 2013.
The proposed 2,700-hectare industrial park is designed to host gas-based industries, including fertilizer, methanol, petrochemical and aluminium plants, and is expected to create about 250,000 direct and indirect jobs if fully implemented.
Trade between Nigeria and China has also remained significant.
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed that total trade between both countries stood at N5.68 trillion in the first quarter of 2026, making China Nigeria’s largest trading partner during the period.
Nigeria imported goods worth N5.10 trillion from China in the quarter, while exports to China stood at N582.20 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of N4.51 trillion in favour of China.
Total trade declined from N6.20 trillion in the fourth quarter of 2025 but remained above the N4.96 trillion recorded in the first quarter of 2025.
China’s position as Nigeria’s largest trading partner highlights the depth of the bilateral economic relationship, with China supplying machinery, electronics, industrial equipment, chemicals and manufactured goods, while Nigerian exports to China remain largely concentrated in mineral and energy products.
