Yu Dunhai, the Chinese ambassador to Nigeria, says plans are
underway to establish electric vehicle factories and other manufacturing
ventures in Nigeria.
Dunhai spoke during a courtesy visit to Dele Alake, minister
of solid minerals development, according to a statement on Sunday by Segun
Tomori, special assistant on media to the minister.
The envoy emphasised the imperative of deeper collaboration
between China and Nigeria to unlock the potential of Nigeria’s solid minerals
sector through the establishment of electric vehicle factories in the country.
Dunhai said Nigeria is a great country blessed with tremendous natural resources, noting that China has always placed the country in a very pivotal position in its foreign policy.
He recalled the 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”.
“Chinese companies are already deeply involved in Nigeria’s
mining sector, from exploration to processing,” he said.
“We aim to deepen this collaboration, especially in line
with President Tinubu’s eight priority areas, notably economic diversification
through solid minerals.”
Dunhai said the embassy has admonished Chinese firms operating
in Nigeria to abide by rules and regulations, carry out corporate social
responsibility and adhere to environmental and safety standards.
He added that the Chinese authorities have zero tolerance
for illegal mining, expressing their readiness to work with the Nigerian
government to bring suspected culprits to justice.
In his response, Alake said Nigeria appreciates its
long-standing relations with China, acknowledging that most Chinese firms
operate within legal and regulatory frameworks.
However, he expressed concern over the actions of a few
operators tarnishing China’s image, referencing a recent viral video involving
a Chinese national allegedly bribing local security agents.
“We’ve taken action against illegal operators, including
some Chinese nationals,” the minister said.
“While isolated, such incidents undermine the good work of
many compliant Chinese firms. We need your cooperation in ensuring that such
culprits are brought to justice,” the minister said.
Alake underscored the effect of the mining marshals set up
to tackle illegal mining, saying the unit has sent the right signal across the
sector, heightened awareness of the menace and, in turn, improved regulatory
compliance among both local and foreign operators.
‘NIGERIA NOW PRIORITISES LOCAL PROCESSING TO BOOST
DEVELOPMENT’
Alake reiterated that Nigeria welcomes serious investors,
stressing that investments in the nation’s mining industry are now focused on
local value addition.
“For years, our minerals have been exported raw to fuel
foreign industrialisation. That must change,” he said.
“We now prioritise local processing to drive Nigeria’s
development. For instance, with the abundance of lithium, we want to see local
manufacturing of electric vehicles and batteries,” he said.
The minister urged Dunhai to encourage Chinese investors to
commit to full-cycle investments — from extraction to processing — within
Nigeria.
He pointed out Nigeria’s large market and the potential to
reduce reliance on fossil fuels through electric vehicle production.
The envoy expressed support for Nigeria’s local
value-addition policy, stating that one of Jinping’s key priorities is
promoting African industrialisation.
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