The Director-General of the Nigeria–China Strategic Partnership, Joseph Tegbe, has congratulated the government and people of China on the Spring Festival, describing the celebration as emblematic of a renewed and more ambitious phase in Nigeria–China economic relations.
In a statement marking the Lunar New Year, Tegbe noted that this year’s festivities coincide with the 55th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Nigeria and China, established in 1971. He said the milestone underscores a resilient partnership that has evolved from formal diplomatic engagement into one of Africa’s most consequential economic relationships.
According to him, the bilateral relationship—now elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership—has expanded beyond trade to include infrastructure financing, industrial investment, technology cooperation and people-to-people exchanges. He observed that China remains Nigeria’s largest trading partner and a key contributor to strategic infrastructure projects spanning rail, ports, power and industrial parks.
However, Tegbe stressed that the next phase of engagement must move beyond infrastructure delivery to prioritise value addition, manufacturing scale-up and export competitiveness.
He highlighted the Zero-Tariff initiative introduced by the Chinese government for qualifying African exports as a potential game-changer for Nigeria’s non-oil sector. The policy, he said, offers Nigerian producers preferential access to one of the world’s largest consumer markets.
“The Zero-Tariff arrangement provides Nigerian businesses with an unprecedented opportunity to scale exports, deepen industrial processing and create jobs domestically,” Tegbe stated. “But access alone is not enough—success will depend on adherence to quality standards, efficient logistics and robust public–private sector collaboration.”
He disclosed that the NCSP is engaging stakeholders across manufacturing, agriculture and export promotion agencies to ensure Nigeria maximises the preferential trade window and translates diplomatic goodwill into measurable economic gains.
Tegbe added that as both countries commemorate 55 years of diplomatic relations, the symbolism of the Spring Festival—renewal, growth and prosperity—mirrors what he described as a strategic recalibration of bilateral ties toward sustainable development and shared prosperity.
“With deliberate execution and policy discipline, this next phase of Nigeria–China relations can redefine our export landscape and strengthen industrial capacity,” he said.
Observers note that the renewed emphasis on export diversification signals a broader shift in Nigeria’s foreign economic strategy, positioning China not only as an infrastructure partner but also as a gateway for industrial expansion and global market access.
