LAGOS, Nigeria – China is cementing its role as a pivotal economic partner for Nigeria, with bilateral trade hitting $21.9 billion and strategic infrastructure investments transforming key sectors, business leaders and officials announced at the 2025 China Commodities Expo.
The figure, confirmed by Chinese Consul General Yan Yuqing, underscores Nigeria’s position as a critical market, accounting for roughly 8% of China’s total trade with Africa. This growing economic integration is being driven by massive investments in railways, ports, and digital infrastructure, positioning Lagos as a central hub for China’s continental strategy.
“The partnership between our countries continues to inject new momentum into the stability of the global industrial chain,” stated Yan Yuqing. She highlighted that China has consistently been Nigeria’s top project contractor and a major source of foreign investment, with flagship projects like the Lagos–Ibadan Railway, the Lagos Light Rail, and the Lekki Deep Sea Port serving as tangible proof of concept.
Lagos Bets on Chinese Investment for Industrial Growth
The Lagos State government explicitly linked these Chinese-funded projects to its own economic ambitions. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Commissioner for Commerce, described the expo as a “dynamic platform that deepens the economic partnership.”
“China’s investments exceeding $1.5 billion in Lagos and across Nigeria have delivered not only infrastructure but also technology transfer and skills development, fueling our shared drive for prosperity,” the Governor’s representative said. He pointed to the Lekki Deep Seaport and the adjacent Lagos Free Zone as strategic assets that are “transforming the city into a gateway for continental commerce and industrial growth.”
The message to Nigerian entrepreneurs was clear: leverage this partnership. The governor encouraged local businesses to use the Expo to forge partnerships and secure technology transfer to accelerate industrialisation and diversification away from oil.
Business Matchmaking at Scale
The three-day Expo, which concludes November 7th, functions as a large-scale business-to-business marketplace. It features over 250 Chinese manufacturers and is expected to host more than 5,000 business delegates. The product sectors on display signal the future direction of the trade relationship, with a strong focus on automobiles, renewable energy, manufacturing equipment, textiles, and electronics. This shift from raw materials to manufactured goods, technology, and industrial equipment highlights the evolving nature of the China-Nigeria trade relationship, moving beyond basic commodities towards more complex, value-added sectors critical for Nigeria’s economic development.
More Stories
EU Reaffirms Support for Credible, Inclusive Anambra Governorship Election
China Articulates a Global South Vision for Fairer Governance
Equities Fall 1.35% as Market Capitalisation Drops to ₦95.66 Trillion