The Federal Government has identified deeper cooperation with China as a key opportunity to improve Nigeria’s electricity supply, expand renewable energy and develop local manufacturing of power-sector equipment.
Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe disclosed this on Wednesday night in Abuja during a reception organised to mark the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
Tegbe said Nigeria saw particular potential in working with China to deliver more reliable electricity while developing renewable-energy projects and building the capacity to manufacture power equipment within the country.
The minister, who also serves as Director-General of the Nigerian-China Strategic Partnership, stressed that Chinese investment would have greater long-term impact if it included technology transfer and the development of Nigerian engineers, technicians and local businesses.
According to Tegbe, Nigeria needs the capacity to operate and maintain the infrastructure it develops rather than depending indefinitely on foreign expertise after projects are completed.
He said stronger technical capacity would allow Nigerian professionals and companies to participate more meaningfully in the power-sector value chain while creating opportunities for local businesses.
The minister pointed to the broader history of Nigeria-China cooperation, noting that the relationship has expanded from diplomatic ties into areas including infrastructure, healthcare, technical exchanges, trade and investment.
Nigeria and China established diplomatic relations on February 10, 1971, while the relationship was elevated to a comprehensive strategic partnership by President Bola Tinubu and Chinese President Xi Jinping in September 2024.
Tegbe also acknowledged China’s involvement in major Nigerian infrastructure projects, including the Lekki Deep Seaport, railway modernisation and the Zungeru Hydropower Station.
He cited China’s progress in manufacturing, science, high-speed rail and clean-energy development as areas from which Nigeria could draw lessons while expanding its own industrial and technological capabilities.
The power minister also highlighted China’s zero-tariff programme for African countries, saying the policy could create additional opportunities for Nigerian producers seeking access to the Chinese market.
He said bilateral trade between Nigeria and China stood at $28 billion at the end of 2025 and had already reached $17 billion in the first half of 2026.
Tegbe, however, said the growth in trade should translate into stronger Nigerian production and increased exports rather than simply expanding the volume of goods entering the country.
He argued that greater market access would have more lasting economic benefits if Nigerian manufacturers and producers could use it to expand production, create jobs and sell more goods internationally.
Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria Yu Dunhai also described the bilateral relationship as entering a new phase, citing increased trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.
Dunhai said recent agreements covering economic partnership and aquatic exports would provide additional institutional support for expanding commercial relations between Nigeria and China.
The ambassador put bilateral trade at $18 billion in the first half of 2026, representing a 35 per cent increase, while saying Chinese imports from Nigeria had risen by 81 per cent during the period.
The different trade figures reported by the Nigerian minister and Chinese ambassador were presented at the same event, with Tegbe citing $17 billion for the first half of the year and Dunhai citing $18 billion.
Dunhai said China was prepared to align its 15th Five-Year Plan with Nigeria’s Renewed Hope Agenda in areas including industrialisation, digital development and the green and blue economies.
He also invited Nigeria to join the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation, saying participation could provide another avenue for the country to engage in international technology development.
The ambassador further said China’s zero-tariff treatment for 53 African countries, which began on May 1, had contributed to a 24 per cent increase in Chinese imports from Africa during May and June.
For Nigeria’s electricity sector, the proposed cooperation comes as the Federal Government continues efforts to address generation, transmission, distribution and infrastructure challenges while seeking greater private and foreign investment.
The government has also been pursuing renewable-energy projects and local power-equipment manufacturing as part of a broader strategy to strengthen the electricity value chain.
Tegbe’s comments therefore place China-Nigeria cooperation within a wider effort to combine foreign investment with domestic skills, technology transfer and industrial capacity.
The outcome will depend on how effectively proposed partnerships translate into power infrastructure, renewable-energy projects, equipment manufacturing and opportunities for Nigerian companies and technical workers.