By Faridat Salifu
China is planning to establish electric vehicle (EV) factories and other industrial ventures in Nigeria, to strengthen bilateral economic ties and support the country’s industrialisation goals.
This was disclosed in a statement issued over the weekend by Segun Tomori, Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, following a high-level meeting between the minister and the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai.
According to the statement, the proposed EV manufacturing initiative is part of broader cooperation in the solid minerals sector and aligns with both countries’ shared goal of driving industrial transformation through value-added production.
Ambassador Dunhai was quoted as saying the new ventures would help unlock Nigeria’s vast mineral potential particularly lithium and advance Africa’s industrial capacity in line with Chinese President Xi Jinping’s foreign policy focus on partnership with Africa.
“This is more than trade it’s about development,” the ambassador said. “China is committed to supporting Africa’s industrialisation, and Nigeria is central to that agenda.
In the same meeting, Minister Alake raised concerns over illegal mining practices involving some Chinese nationals.
In response, the Chinese envoy affirmed that his county maintains a “zero-tolerance policy” on illegality and has instructed Chinese firms operating in Nigeria to strictly comply with local regulations.
“Any company found violating Nigerian laws must face the consequences,” the ambassador reportedly said, adding that the embassy would assist efforts to prosecute offenders and strengthen regulatory oversight.
Ambassador Dunhai also emphasized the importance of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and environmental sustainability, urging Chinese businesses to operate transparently and with accountability.
Minister Alake said Nigeria is committed to sustainable development through a green industrial agenda, pointing to lithium—critical for battery production—as a cornerstone of the country’s EV strategy.
“With our abundance of lithium, we are strategically positioned to lead in EV manufacturing across West Africa,” he said. “This is why we are encouraging investors—especially from China—to go beyond raw material extraction and invest in value-added processing and production on Nigerian soil.”
Alake reiterated the government’s openness to credible investors while maintaining that non-compliant actors would be held accountable.
The development comes as Nigeria’s electric mobility landscape gains traction. Earlier this year, the Federal Government approved a ₦151.9 billion package to roll out electric buses, tricycles, and charging infrastructure across the North-East, in a bid to reduce carbon emissions and improve transport access in underserved areas.
In the private sector, firms like C&I Leasing Plc have expanded their EV operations, while market interest in electric vehicles has grown among upper-middle-class buyers and institutions, with models priced between ₦12 million and ₦150 million.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), China was Nigeria’s top import partner in 2024, with trade volume rising sharply to ₦14.14 trillion—more than double the previous year.