China Backs Nigeria’s Mining Vision, Plans Electric Vehicle Factories in Bold Strategic Move

In what appears to be a defining moment for Nigeria’s solid minerals sector, the Chinese government has thrown its weight behind the country’s renewed drive for industrialization and local value addition, signaling its readiness to establish electric vehicle (EV) factories in Nigeria.

This move, if actualized, could place Nigeria on the global map as a key player in the green energy transition sweeping across the world.

During a recent courtesy visit to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Yu Dunhai, reaffirmed China’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties with Nigeria. He emphasized the need for deepened collaboration between both countries in unlocking the vast potential of Nigeria’s solid minerals sector. This comes on the heels of a high-level meeting between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Chinese President Xi Jinping, where both leaders agreed to upgrade relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

Ambassador Dunhai described Nigeria as a country richly endowed with natural resources and noted that several Chinese firms are already active in Nigeria’s mining sector, participating in both exploration and processing. However, he stressed China’s intention to go beyond mineral extraction. According to him, the future lies in investments that include full-scale production and processing—specifically citing the manufacturing of electric vehicles and lithium-ion batteries, for which Nigeria has immense potential due to its lithium reserves.

The ambassador made it clear that Chinese companies operating in Nigeria have been urged to strictly adhere to environmental standards, respect Nigerian laws, and engage in responsible Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). He condemned illegal mining activities and assured that China has zero tolerance for such practices. His comments followed concerns raised by Dr. Alake over some recent misconduct by certain Chinese individuals in the mining space, including a viral video that surfaced showing alleged bribery of local security agents.

In response, Dr. Alake praised the long-standing relationship between Nigeria and China but did not mince words about the need for accountability. He warned that while most Chinese companies comply with regulations, the actions of a few bad actors risk damaging the reputation of their country. He called for closer cooperation with the Chinese embassy to ensure that illegal miners—regardless of nationality—are prosecuted.

The Minister highlighted recent strides made through the establishment of the Mining Marshals, a task force created to tackle illegal mining activities. According to him, the presence of the marshals has sent a strong message across the industry and is already yielding results in terms of increased compliance and improved investor confidence.

One of the most significant moments in the conversation came when Dr. Alake declared that Nigeria is no longer interested in exporting raw minerals that only serve to industrialize foreign economies. Instead, the country now prioritizes local value addition. He specifically urged the Chinese government and its investors to channel resources into setting up processing plants and full-cycle operations that include the production of electric vehicles.

Ambassador Dunhai expressed his strong support for this policy shift and confirmed that the Chinese government is already making plans to establish electric vehicle factories in Nigeria as part of its broader goal of promoting African industrialization—a key pillar of President Xi Jinping’s foreign policy.

With a large population, growing demand for alternative energy, and a renewed policy direction, Nigeria stands at the brink of a transformation that could rebrand it from a raw materials exporter to a manufacturing hub in Africa. China’s commitment to this vision may well be the push that turns that aspiration into reality.