The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, announced plans for China to establish electric vehicle factories in Nigeria, emphasizing the importance of enhanced collaboration in the solid minerals sector.
During a visit to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, Ambassador Dunhai highlighted Nigeria’s rich natural resources and strategic importance to China’s foreign policy, citing the recent meeting between Presidents Xi Jinping and Bola Tinubu as a step toward a comprehensive strategic partnership.
Minister Alake welcomed the initiative and reiterated Nigeria’s shift towards value addition within its mining industry. He urged Chinese investors to commit to full-cycle operations, from resource extraction to local processing, stressing the country’s desire to leverage its lithium reserves for local electric vehicle and battery manufacturing. This shift, he said, is necessary to drive Nigeria’s industrial development and reduce dependency on fossil fuels.
Ambassador Dunhai affirmed China’s support for Nigeria’s industrial goals and noted that Chinese companies are already active in Nigeria’s mining industry. He emphasized that plans are underway to deepen this cooperation in line with President Tinubu’s priorities, particularly economic diversification through solid minerals. The ambassador also stressed China’s commitment to lawful operations, environmental standards, and corporate social responsibility.
While acknowledging the positive contributions of most Chinese firms, Minister Alake expressed concern over a few illegal actors, referencing a recent incident involving bribery by a Chinese national. He emphasized the government’s zero-tolerance approach to illegal mining, highlighted the role of Mining Marshals in improving sector compliance, and called for continued collaboration with China to bring violators to justice.
