By Favour Ulebor
The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has said that the relationship between Nigeria and China is now valued at nearly $24 billion in bilateral trade and continues to grow steadily.
Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Honourable Commissioner, Lagos State Ministry of Commerce, Cooperative, Trade and Investment, Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, said this during the opening ceremony of the 2025 China Commodities Expo Nigeria, on Wednesday in Lagos.
He said that the 2025 China Commodities Expo is more than a trade show and also a dynamic platform that deepens the economic partnership between Nigeria and China.
He noted that Lagos, as Africa’s foremost trade and logistics hub, stands ready to leverage this partnership, backed by strategic infrastructure such as the Lekki Deep Seaport and Lagos Free Zone, which are transforming the city into a gateway for continental commerce and industrial growth.
He said, “The 2025 China Commodities Expo Nigeria is more than a trade show; it is a dynamic platform that deepens the economic partnership between Nigeria and China—a relationship already valued at nearly $24 billion in bilateral trade and growing steadily.
“With over 250 Chinese manufacturers and more than 5,000 business delegates gathered here, we are witnessing a convergence of opportunity that spans automobiles, renewable energy, manufacturing, textiles, electronics, and agriculture.
“This Expo embodies how Lagos is embracing innovation, industrialization, and inclusivity in line with our THEMES+ development agenda; a vision to build a resilient, globally competitive economy that creates jobs and uplifts communities.”
The Governor also highlighted China’s investment footprint in Lagos, saying, “China’s investments exceeding $1.5 billion in Lagos and across Nigeria have delivered not only infrastructure but also technology transfer and skills development, fueling our shared drive for prosperity.”
He encouraged Nigerian businesses to take advantage of the platform to negotiate meaningful deals that will promote growth and sustainability.
In her remarks, the Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Lagos, Ms. Yan Yuqing, expressed gratitude to the Nigerian government and partners for their continuous support and warm cooperation in promoting trade between both countries.
She said this year marks the 25th anniversary of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and the 54th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Nigeria.
Stressing on both countries’ bilateral trade, Yan said, “Our bilateral economic and trade cooperation has yielded fruitful results. According to statistics from China Customs, the bilateral trade between China and Africa in 2024 reached approximately USD 280 billion, a year-on-year increase of 6.1%.
“China has remained Africa’s largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years. The bilateral trade volume between China and Nigeria reached nearly USD 21.9 billion, accounting for about 8% of China-Africa trade.
She added that the future of China-Nigeria relations will focus on industrial capacity alignment, green transformation, and people-to-people exchange.
Also speaking, Mr. Wang Deyang, Deputy Director of the Trade Development Bureau of the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China, commended Nigeria for its continuous support and expressed optimism about the future of China-Nigeria trade cooperation.
He revealed that trade between the two countries continues to grow steadily.
He explained that the Trade Development Bureau of the Ministry of Commerce and the Official Trade Promotion Agency of China are willing to work with all parties to build a platform for deepening economic and trade cooperation between China and Nigeria and make contributions.
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