Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
Nigeria and China have signed a grant agreement worth RMB 200 million (approximately $30 million) to support community-focused development projects under the Nigeria–China Development Cooperation, reinforcing the two countries’ longstanding strategic partnership.
The agreement, signed on Thursday at the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning in Abuja, marks another milestone in bilateral cooperation to advance Nigeria’s development priorities and deliver tangible benefits to citizens through targeted, locally driven initiatives.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Honourable Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, welcomed the Chinese Government’s continued support, describing the partnership as an important platform for strengthening development cooperation, knowledge exchange and mutual understanding.
Bagudu thanked the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Yu Dunhai, and his delegation for their commitment to deepening bilateral relations, noting that progress over the years reflects both countries’ shared determination to advance their common development objectives.
The grant will support mutually agreed projects under China’s “small but beautiful” initiative, which focuses on investments that deliver practical results, improve livelihoods and create direct community-level impact.
The minister noted that the grant builds on prior Chinese assistance, including a $1 million contribution earlier in 2026 to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity for technological and knowledge development. He also highlighted opportunities to expand trade and economic cooperation, particularly through China’s zero-tariff policy on Nigerian exports.
He stressed that the priority is to ensure that bilateral commitments translate into measurable development outcomes for Nigerians. To this end, the ministry, in collaboration with the Nigeria–China Strategic Partnership Office, has been developing projects proposed by states to address specific grassroots development needs.
Bagudu also highlighted Nigeria’s Renewed Hope Ward Development Plan, which aims to identify economic opportunities and map economically active people across the country’s 8,809 wards to promote inclusive, targeted and locally driven development.
He expressed interest in sharing the initiative with China and drawing on China’s development experience, particularly in poverty reduction, to strengthen Nigeria’s efforts to expand economic opportunities, address poverty and improve livelihoods.
The minister further emphasised the importance of capacity-building initiatives, including the training of Nigerian officials in China, noting that knowledge exchange and institutional development are essential to strengthening the country’s capacity to implement its development priorities.
In his remarks, the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, described the grant as a concrete demonstration of China’s commitment to Nigeria’s development priorities and to the enduring strategic partnership between the two countries, founded on mutual trust, solidarity and a shared commitment to economic and social development.
The ambassador explained that the agreement advances the consensus reached by Presidents Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Xi Jinping during their meeting in China and the outcomes of the Fourth China–Nigeria Cooperation Forum in Beijing.
He noted that 2026 marks the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and China, describing the relationship as one that has continued to evolve through cooperation across various sectors and mutual support for more than five decades.
Dunhai also highlighted the economic opportunities arising from China’s zero-tariff policy on Nigerian exports, which took effect on 1 May 2026. According to him, bilateral trade reportedly reached $18 billion in the first half of the year, while Nigeria’s exports to China increased by 80 per cent.
He said the policy could expand market access for Nigerian businesses, attract investment, support industrial development, and encourage Nigerian products to move up the value chain.
However, the Ambassador noted that the current zero-tariff arrangement is set to expire on May 1, 2028, and urged both countries to use the remaining period effectively to work towards an economic development partnership agreement that would consolidate gains and establish a more sustainable framework for trade and economic cooperation.
He called on the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, in coordination with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, to advance discussions on the proposed agreement.
In separate remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Dr Deborah Odoh, expressed appreciation to the Chinese Government, the ambassador and his delegation for their continued support, describing the grant as a welcome demonstration of confidence in Nigeria’s development priorities.
The permanent secretary also commended the ministers, the Chinese Embassy, and the relevant ministries, departments and agencies, particularly the International Cooperation and Legal Departments, for their contributions to the successful conclusion of the agreement.
The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to working with Chinese partners and relevant institutions to ensure that the projects are implemented transparently and efficiently, in line with the agreed objectives, with a focus on delivering tangible benefits to Nigerians.
The signing ceremony underscores Nigeria and China’s commitment to sustaining their strategic partnership, expanding economic cooperation, and turning shared development aspirations into practical outcomes for their citizens.
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