Beijing, China (Agencies): Nigeria and China have signed a comprehensive agreement to strengthen their ties through a new nuclear energy partnership. The agreement was formalized at the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing, where both nations committed to enhancing collaboration in the Belt and Road Initiative, human resource development, and nuclear energy.
Nigeria has been exploring the creation of its own nuclear energy industry for over a decade. This new partnership is expected to bolster development, stability, and security in the West African sub-region. China, Nigeria’s largest bilateral lender, has already invested heavily in the country’s infrastructure, with $5 billion in loans as of March 2024.
The partnership has included critical projects such as a deep sea port and extensive rail lines under the Belt and Road Initiative since their cooperation intensified in 2018. President Bola Tinubu, who attended the summit alongside leaders from 50 African nations, emphasized the potential for this strategic partnership to drive growth not only in Nigeria but also across Africa, highlighting the importance of stability and security.
Chinese President Xi Jinping stated that the enhanced strategic coordination between China and Nigeria would inject fresh momentum into China-Africa relations and promote collective progress among Global South countries. During his visit, President Tinubu toured the Huawei Research lab, securing a commitment from the tech giant to establish a joint solar PV test lab in Nigeria. Another Chinese company pledged to build an assembly plant for electric tricycles and train Nigerians in technology and renewable energy development.
This agreement comes as China is poised to embark on a record-breaking nuclear expansion, aiming to become the world’s largest nuclear generator by 2030. For Nigeria, the partnership offers a promising avenue for advancing its own energy infrastructure and sustainable development goals.