The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, has disclosed that plans are in progress to establish electric vehicle factories alongside other manufacturing ventures in Nigeria.
Ambassador Dunhai shared this information during a recent bilateral meeting with the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr Dele Alake.
This was contained in a statement issued by Alake’s Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, on Sunday in Abuja.
Tomori reported that the ambassador emphasised the importance of enhanced collaboration between China and Nigeria to unlock the potential of Nigeria’s solid minerals sector, particularly through the establishment of electric vehicle factories.
He further noted that the ambassador expressed strong support for Nigeria’s local value-addition policy, highlighting that one of President Xi Jinping’s key priorities is the promotion of industrialisation across Africa.
Ambassador Dunhai recalled that the leaders of Nigeria and China had agreed to elevate bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership aimed at creating fresh opportunities for cooperation.
He referred to the recent high-level talks held between President Bola Tinubu and President Xi Jinping during Tinubu’s state visit to China as part of this ongoing effort.
Tomori quoted the ambassador as saying, “Chinese companies are already deeply involved in Nigeria’s mining sector, spanning exploration to processing.
“We intend to deepen this collaboration, especially in line with President Tinubu’s eight priority areas, notably economic diversification through solid minerals,” the ambassador added.
Addressing concerns raised by the Minister regarding the actions of a few operators that have tarnished China’s image, the ambassador affirmed that the Chinese embassy and government have consistently urged compliance with Nigerian regulations.
He explained that Chinese firms operating in Nigeria have been instructed by their government to adhere strictly to the country’s laws and regulations.
Furthermore, these companies have been encouraged to implement the required Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives and comply fully with environmental and safety standards.
According to Tomori, the ambassador stressed that Chinese authorities maintain a zero-tolerance stance on illegal mining and are prepared to collaborate with the Nigerian government to bring suspected offenders to justice.
In response, Minister Alake stated that Nigeria boasts a large market and significant potential to reduce dependence on fossil fuels through the local production of electric vehicles.
He acknowledged the longstanding relations between Nigeria and China, affirming that the majority of Chinese firms operate within legal and regulatory frameworks.
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However, he expressed concerns over the misconduct of a small number of operators, adding that legal measures are being taken to address such issues.
“We have taken action against illegal operators, including some Chinese nationals. Although these cases are isolated, they undermine the good work of many compliant Chinese firms.
“We seek your cooperation to ensure that such culprits are held accountable,” he said.
The minister reiterated that Nigeria remains open for business to serious investors, emphasising that investments in the country’s mining industry are focused on local value addition.
“We now prioritise local processing to drive Nigeria’s development. For example, given the abundance of lithium, we aim to foster local manufacturing of electric vehicles and batteries,” he concluded.
