China To Establish Electric Vehicle Factories in Nigeria

The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Yu Dunhai, has emphasized the need for stronger bilateral collaboration to unlock the full potential of Nigeria’s solid minerals sector through the establishment of electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing plants in the country.

Speaking during a courtesy visit to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, Ambassador Dunhai underscored China’s commitment to Nigeria’s industrial growth, noting that the West African nation holds a strategic place in China’s foreign policy.

According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Minister’s Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, the ambassador disclosed plans by China to set up EV factories in Nigeria as part of efforts to deepen economic ties and promote sustainable industrialisation.

“Nigeria is a great country blessed with abundant natural resources. We aim to work closely with the Nigerian government to expand our collaboration, especially in line with President Tinubu’s economic diversification goals through solid minerals,” Ambassador Dunhai stated.

He recalled the recent high-level meeting between Presidents Bola Tinubu and Xi Jinping during Tinubu’s visit to China, where both leaders agreed to elevate bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

Responding, Dr. Alake affirmed Nigeria’s openness to genuine foreign investment, particularly those that align with the country’s drive toward local value addition in the mining sector.

“For years, our minerals have been exported raw to fuel foreign industrialisation. That must change,” the minister said. “With Nigeria’s vast lithium deposits, we want to see full-cycle investments — from extraction to local manufacturing of batteries and electric vehicles.”

Alake also urged the Chinese government to encourage companies to commit to end-to-end processing within Nigeria, stressing that such moves would contribute significantly to job creation and energy transition efforts.

Ambassador Dunhai expressed support for Nigeria’s policy shift, stating that China is keen to promote African industrialisation, one of President Xi Jinping’s core international development goals. He added that Chinese companies are already playing key roles in Nigeria’s mining value chain and are ready to expand their footprint.

On regulatory compliance, the ambassador reiterated China’s stance against illegal mining, noting that Chinese firms are regularly advised to uphold Nigerian laws, implement corporate social responsibility (CSR), and adhere to environmental and safety standards.

In his remarks, Dr. Alake acknowledged the positive contributions of compliant Chinese companies but raised concerns over a few rogue operators damaging China’s image. He cited a recent viral video allegedly involving a Chinese national attempting to bribe local security personnel.

“We are committed to sanitising the mining sector. Incidents involving illegal mining, including those linked to foreign nationals, will not be tolerated. We expect continued cooperation from the Chinese government to bring such culprits to justice,” he said.

The minister also highlighted the impact of the newly launched Mining Marshals in curbing illegal operations, noting improved compliance among local and international players in the industry.