Minister urges exporters to seize Nigeria-China aquatic trade deal

The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has urged Nigerian exporters to move quickly to take advantage of the newly signed Nigeria-China Aquatic Products Protocol, describing it as a major opportunity to expand non-oil exports and increase foreign exchange earnings.

Tegbe made the call during a reception for the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, following the signing of the protocol.

The agreement, negotiated over nearly five years, provides eligible Nigerian aquatic products with zero-tariff access to the Chinese market, potentially opening a major export opportunity for the country’s fisheries and aquaculture sector.

The minister said the agreement would only deliver its expected benefits if Nigerian businesses moved swiftly to take advantage of the new market access.

“This Protocol should not sit on paper,” Tegbe said, urging exporters to begin positioning themselves to benefit from the arrangement.

He said early participation by Nigerian businesses would also demonstrate the viability of the agreement and help accelerate other trade initiatives, including the proposed broader Zero Tariff Agreement being extended to African countries.

Tegbe disclosed that bilateral trade between Nigeria and China reached $18 billion in the first half of 2026, compared with $28 billion recorded throughout 2025, reflecting the growing economic relationship between both countries.

Responding, Ambassador Yu Dunhai pledged China’s support for the effective implementation of the protocol and efforts to facilitate the entry of qualified Nigerian aquatic products into the Chinese market.

He said bilateral trade increased by 35 per cent in the first half of 2026, while Nigerian exports to China rose by 80 per cent during the same period.

The ambassador also reaffirmed China’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s efforts to modernise and expand its power infrastructure.

The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service, Dr Vincent Isegbe, said the agency would support exporters in meeting the regulatory and quality requirements for accessing the Chinese market.

Isegbe said the growing demand for aquatic products globally could significantly increase Nigeria’s exports to China if the country effectively utilised the new market access.

He added that the success of the arrangement could pave the way for similar market-access agreements covering other agricultural and fishery products.

Meanwhile, Atlantic Shrimpers, a Nigerian company that has been engaging with the Chinese market since 2018, said it was ready to begin exports under the new protocol.

The company said it had already identified prospective buyers in China and was awaiting the operational implementation of the agreement.

The stakeholders agreed to focus on swift implementation and measurable outcomes, with the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership expected to support increased exports and create new opportunities for Nigerian businesses.