Nigeria Seeks To Bridge $25B Trade Gap with China Through Local Battery Manufacturing, Agriculture – Amb. Dambazau
Nigeria is moving to restructure its economic relationship with China by targeting a massive bilateral trade deficit through localized mineral processing, expanded agricultural infrastructure, and strategic partnerships.
Speaking during an interactive session with three senior Nigerian journalists on a tour of China in Beijing, the Nigerian Ambassador to China, Abdulrahman Dambazau, revealed that total trade volume between the two nations stands at approximately $28 billion.
However, Nigerian exports account for only $3 billion of that figure.
To bridge the $25 billion gap and prepare for UN projections that Nigeria’s population will double by 2050, Ambassador Dambazau outlined several key focus areas:
Lithium & Local Manufacturing: Ambassador Dambazau urged Chinese investors to move beyond raw mineral extraction and establish lithium battery manufacturing plants directly in Nigeria.
Highlighting vast lithium deposits in states like Kebbi, he stated the goal is to make Nigeria a major manufacturing hub supplying batteries to Africa and Europe.
The ambassador confirmed that Nigerian officials are actively studying the criteria of China’s zero-tariff policy so local farmers and traders can realistically satisfy regulatory standards and access Chinese market.
Pointing to Egypt’s agricultural success despite low rainfall, Dambazau stressed that Nigeria must harness its abundant surface and groundwater.
He called for extensive irrigation networks to move away from seasonal farming and secure the national food supply.
Beyond major infrastructure projects, Dambazau emphasized off-grid energy solutions for rural communities to support Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and raise Nigeria’s GDP per capita, which currently sits at just over $1,000 compared to China’s $13,000.
