China and Nigeria have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral trade and economic cooperation at the 2025 China Commodities Expo-Nigeria, held on Wednesday at the Landmark Event Centre in Lagos.
According to China Customs, trade between the two nations reached $20 billion from January to September 2025.
Speaking at the Expo’s opening ceremony, Chinese Consul General in Lagos, Yan Yuqing, reiterated China’s dedication to strengthening economic and trade relations with Nigeria. The event, organised by China’s Ministry of Commerce, runs until Friday, 7 November 2025.
Yuqing described the exhibition as “not only a reflection of China-Nigeria economic cooperation but also an important platform for both countries to explore development opportunities.” She added, “We hope this Expo will serve as a bridge to foster confidence in collaboration. China is committed to extensive consultation and shared benefits and is ready to deepen practical cooperation with Nigeria, contributing to global industrial stability.”
Referencing the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, Yuqing highlighted the adoption of the 15th Five-Year Plan, aimed at expanding market access, improving the business environment, and advancing the Belt and Road Initiative. She emphasized China’s willingness to share development gains with Nigeria and enhance cooperation in digital economy, green energy, infrastructure, and support for the African Continental Free Trade Zone.
Bilateral trade between China and Africa reached approximately $280 billion in 2024, a 6.1% increase from 2023, with Nigeria contributing nearly $21.9 billion, making China Africa’s largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years. Major Chinese-backed infrastructure projects in Nigeria—such as the Lagos-Ibadan Railway, Lagos Light Rail, and Lekki Deep Sea Port—were highlighted as examples of “people-oriented cooperation driving Nigeria’s economic and social development.”
Yuqing also outlined future areas of collaboration, including industrial capacity alignment to support Nigeria’s industrialization, green transformation through projects in new energy and ecological agriculture, and enhanced people-to-people exchanges in education, culture, and science & technology. She expressed optimism that China-Nigeria Belt and Road cooperation “will become a model for South-South cooperation.”
Deputy Director of the Trade Development Bureau of China’s Ministry of Commerce, Wang Deyang, emphasized the growing trade partnership, noting that Chinese demand for Nigerian oil, semi-products, and cocoa continues to rise. He said bilateral trade reached $20 billion from January to September, marking a 32.6% year-on-year growth, and expressed hope that the Expo would create more business opportunities for enterprises from both countries.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who declared the Expo open, stressed the event’s significance in promoting Nigeria’s industrial and economic growth. Represented by the State Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, he described the Expo as “a dynamic platform that strengthens the economic partnership between Nigeria and China, a relationship valued at nearly $24 billion and growing steadily.”
Sanwo-Olu highlighted Lagos as Africa’s leading trade and logistics hub, leveraging strategic infrastructure such as the Lekki Deep Seaport and Lagos Free Zone to enhance continental commerce and industrial growth. He praised the participation of over 250 Chinese manufacturers and more than 5,000 business delegates across sectors including automobiles, renewable energy, manufacturing, textiles, electronics, and agriculture.
“The Expo demonstrates Lagos’s commitment to innovation, industrialization, and inclusivity under our THEMES+ development agenda, aiming to build a resilient, globally competitive economy that creates jobs and uplifts communities,” he said. The governor encouraged Nigerian entrepreneurs to seize the opportunities presented by the Expo, pursue smart partnerships, demand technology transfer, and align with global best practices to boost local manufacturing and economic diversification.
Sanwo-Olu concluded: “Through this Expo, we are building bridges—not just for trade but for sustained collaboration that empowers entrepreneurs, enriches our workforce, and drives sustainable growth.”
The event is expected to further strengthen trade, investment, and industrial cooperation, reinforcing the strategic partnership between China and Nigeria.
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