China has been granted approval to establish electric vehicle (EV) factories in Nigeria in an effort to strengthen economic and industrial cooperation between both countries.
This development was announced by Segun Tomori, the Special Assistant on Media to Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, after a bilateral meeting between Minister Alake and the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai.
According to the statement, China plans to invest in EV manufacturing and other industrial ventures in Nigeria. Ambassador Dunhai emphasized that this initiative supports President Xi Jinping’s broader objective of promoting African industrialisation and deepening China-Nigeria relations under a comprehensive strategic partnership.
Dunhai also reaffirmed China’s commitment to helping Nigeria unlock the value of its vast solid mineral resources, especially lithium, a critical component in EV battery production. He highlighted the role of Chinese firms already active in Nigeria’s mining sector and expressed Beijing’s interest in supporting Nigeria’s transition toward sustainable development through local EV and battery production.
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Responding to concerns over illegal mining activities by some Chinese entities, the ambassador assured that China maintains a zero-tolerance stance on regulatory violations. He pledged that the Chinese government will work with Nigerian authorities to bring any offenders to justice, urging all Chinese businesses to comply fully with Nigerian laws and implement strong corporate social responsibility measures.
Dr. Alake welcomed the proposed investment while stressing that Nigeria is focused on ending the export of raw minerals in favor of local processing and manufacturing. He noted that the government has already taken action against illegal operators, including some Chinese nationals, and emphasized the role of the newly established Mining Marshals in improving sector compliance.
The Minister called for full-cycle investment from Chinese firms,from extraction to processing. He highlighted Nigeria’s large market and potential to become a hub for EV production in Africa.
