The Chinese government has planned to build electric vehicle (EV) factories and other manufacturing ventures in Nigeria.
This was revealed in a statement released recently by Segun Tomori, Special Assistant on Media, to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake.
According to Tomori, the plans were discussed during a recent bilateral meeting between Minister Alake and the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai.
Dunhai disclosed the collaboration between China and Nigeria in unlocking the potential of Nigeria’s Solid Minerals sector through the establishment of electric vehicle factories in Nigeria and emphasised the importance of closer ties between both nations in advancing Nigeria’s industrial growth.
Tomori also stated that Ambassador Dunhai expressed China’s support for Africa’s industrialisation—a key pillar of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s foreign policy agenda. He cited recent high-level engagements between President Bola Tinubu and President Xi Jinping during Tinubu’s state visit to China, which aimed at advancing bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership.
The statement further noted that in response to concerns raised by Dr. Alake over reports of illegal mining activities by some Chinese companies, Ambassador Dunhai affirmed his government’s commitment to regulatory compliance.
Tomori said the envoy reiterated that the Chinese government maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy for illegality and encourages all its nationals and companies to operate within Nigeria’s legal and regulatory framework. He added that Chinese firms have also been directed to implement robust Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives and adhere strictly to environmental and safety standards.
The ambassador, as quoted in the statement, assured that the Chinese embassy in Nigeria would continue to support efforts aimed at prosecuting non-compliant entities and strengthening oversight mechanisms in the sector.
In his own remarks, Minister Alake reiterated the Nigerian government’s drive toward sustainable development through electric mobility, pointing to the country’s vast lithium deposits as an incentive for local manufacturing of EVs and batteries.
“We have taken decisive steps against illegal operators, including some Chinese nationals. While these are isolated incidents, they tarnish the image of the many compliant Chinese firms,” Alake was quoted as saying. “We need your continued cooperation to ensure that culprits are held accountable.”
He emphasized that Nigeria remains open to genuine investors and is committed to ensuring that mining operations in the country focus on local value addition.
“With our abundance of lithium, we want to see investments in local manufacturing of electric vehicles and batteries. This is crucial for driving industrial growth and achieving sustainable development,” he added.
