China has declared its readiness to establish electric vehicle factories in Nigeria.
The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, made this known while paying a courtesy visit to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, in his office in Abuja over the weekend.
Dunhai described Nigeria as a great country blessed with tremendous natural resources, noting that China has always placed Nigeria in a very pivotal position of her foreign policy.
Recalling the recent engagement between Presidents Bola Tinubu and Chinese President Xi Jinping during Tinubu’s visit to China, Dunhai noted that both leaders agreed to elevate bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership, creating new opportunities for cooperation.
He said: “Chinese companies are already deeply involved in Nigeria’s mining sector, from exploration to processing.
“We aim to deepen this collaboration, especially in line with President Tinubu’s eight priority areas, notably economic diversification through solid minerals.”
The ambassador stated that the embassy and the Chinese government have always admonished Chinese companies operating in Nigeria to abide by rules and regulations, implement Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and adhere to environmental and safety standards.
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In his response, Alake stated that Nigeria appreciates its long-standing relations with China, acknowledging that most Chinese firms operate within legal and regulatory frameworks.
The minister, however, expressed concern over the actions of a few operators tarnishing China’s image, referencing a recent viral video involving a Chinese national allegedly bribing security operatives.
Alake said: “We’ve taken action against illegal operators, including some Chinese nationals. 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 also highlighted the impact of the Mining Marshals established to combat illegal mining, saying the outfit has sent the right signal in the sector, raised awareness about the menace, and has consequently improved compliance to regulations by both local and foreign operators.
He reiterated that Nigeria is open for business to serious investors, stressing that investments in the nation’s mining industry are now focused on local value addition.
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