China Approves RMB 200m Grant for Nigeria to Support Development Projects

By Iyojo Ameh

China has approved RMB 200 million in grant assistance to Nigeria to support the implementation of development projects agreed upon by the two governments, as both countries move to deepen their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The commitment was disclosed on Thursday when the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, H.

Ambassador Yu said the grant was part of China’s continued support for Nigeria’s national development and economic growth.

He noted that the decision underscored the depth of bilateral relations between the two countries, which have remained strong since the establishment of diplomatic ties 55 years ago.

According to him, China-Nigeria relations have consistently occupied a prominent position in China’s relations with Africa and have entered a new phase of high-quality development in recent years.

The Ambassador attributed the renewed momentum to the strategic guidance of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, stressing that both countries had maintained close communication and coordination in implementing agreements reached by their leaders.

He said China and Nigeria were also working together to translate the outcomes of the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing Summit into tangible benefits for citizens of both countries.

“China and Nigeria have maintained close communication and coordination, working together to implement the common understandings reached by the two heads of state and the outcomes of the 2024 FOCAC Beijing Summit,” Yu said.

He added that the objective was to ensure that the benefits of bilateral cooperation were increasingly felt by the peoples of Nigeria and China.

Responding, the Permanent Secretary expressed appreciation to the Chinese government for what he described as its concrete support for Nigeria’s economic and social development.

Dr. Ahmed said the RMB 200 million grant demonstrated China’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with Nigeria and reflected the longstanding friendship between the two countries.

He assured that Nigeria would ensure the effective utilisation of the grant and work closely with the Chinese government to implement the agreements reached by both sides.

According to him, the cooperation would further consolidate Nigeria-China relations and deliver greater benefits to the people of both countries.

The latest commitment comes as Nigeria and China continue to expand cooperation across infrastructure, trade, investment, energy, education, technology and other strategic sectors, with both governments seeking to translate their longstanding diplomatic ties into more concrete development outcomes.