In a major step toward accelerating Nigeria’s industrialization agenda, the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership (NCSP) has initiated high-level discussions with the China-Africa Geoscience Cooperation Center and leading Chinese manufacturer Yangtse Automotive Group to develop joint ventures in electric vehicle (EV) production and mining.
The strategic meeting, held at the NCSP headquarters in Abuja, focused on mobilizing Chinese investment into Nigeria’s mining and clean energy sectors—sectors seen as vital to reviving the country’s manufacturing base and driving sustainable economic growth.
NCSP Director General Joseph Tegbe highlighted Nigeria’s ambition to become West Africa’s hub for electric mobility and energy innovation. “To reindustrialize Nigeria, we must attract long-term, strategic investors. Chinese partnerships offer the scale and experience needed to build a resilient, globally competitive industrial ecosystem,” Tegbe said.
The discussions centered on leveraging Nigeria’s vast mineral resources to create an end-to-end EV value chain—from mineral extraction and refining to battery development, charging infrastructure, and final vehicle assembly. Tegbe noted that this initiative complements the federal government’s efforts in the solid minerals sector, led by Minister Dele Alake.
Representing the Chinese delegation, Professor Hu Peng, Secretary General of the China-Africa Geoscience Center, reaffirmed China’s commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation under President Xi Jinping’s broader China-Africa strategy. He pointed to the group’s ongoing work in geoscience and capacity building in Nigeria and noted the readiness of Yangtse Automotive and Hubei Wan New Energy to invest in Nigeria’s evolving green economy.
As a next step, Yangtse Automotive and Hubei Wan New Energy are expected to submit a formal expression of interest to NCSP. NCSP officials will also conduct a technical visit to Hubei Wan’s facilities in China to evaluate operational capacity and the feasibility of proposed investments.
The initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to diversify Nigeria’s economy, stimulate local manufacturing, and create jobs through credible international partnerships.
