By Patricia Esami-Lubba, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, has reaffirmed the country’s commitment to deepening cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, while calling for expanded trade reciprocity and stronger domestication of China-Africa development initiatives.
The Minister stated this in an exclusive, on the sidelines of the Ministerial Meeting of Coordinators on the Implementation of FOCAC Outcomes in Changsha, on Wednesday.
Ambassador Tuggar highlighted the tangible impact of President Xi Jinping’s “Ten Cooperation Initiatives” announced at the 2023 FOCAC summit, pointing to major projects like the Zungeru Hydropower Plant and the Lagos-Ibadan Railway as concrete outcomes already advancing Nigeria’s development goals.
“FOCAC and the partnership between China and Africa, particularly Nigeria is about putting words into action, he noted.
He stressed that beyond infrastructure, the focus is now on agriculture, critical minerals and refining processes.
Accordingtohim, Nigeria wants to see more on domestication of value addition across the entire supply chain, while underscored Nigeria’s desire to move beyond resource exportation toward local processing, refining, and beneficiation, particularly in sectors such as mining and agriculture, as this is what it’s all about, developing internal capacity and ensuring the people benefit directly.
Push for Broader Tariff-Free Access
The Foreign Affairs Minister identified trade access as a key issue on Nigeria’s agenda.
While China currently offers zero-tariff treatment to least developed countries in Africa, Nigeria as a middle-income economy he said is not yet included.
Tuggar revealed that discussions to broaden the scope of zero-tariff privileges to include major African economies tops the agenda as well, “We’ve successfully negotiated tariff removals on cashew and groundnut exports from Nigeria to China.
“But we want to see that expanded across sectors as it must be reciprocal, diplomacy and trade work Tuggar said is best attained when both sides benefit”, he stated.
His comments followed a keynote address by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who announced Beijing’s intent to pursue zero-tariff policies for all 53 African nations.
Wang Yi said the proposal is currently under review and will mark a new chapter in China-Africa economic integration.
Strengthening Access and Understanding
Earlier though, Tuggar also addressed visa concerns, especially recent confusion surrounding China’s new e-visa system.
While diplomats and officials currently enjoy visa-free access, Tuggar called for more balanced mobility and transparency in bilateral arrangements, “there was a scare in the Nigerian media around possible visa restrictions,” he said., as such We had to clarify that message.
What we need is a symbiotic relationship where when China wants access to Nigeria, Nigerians must also have predictable and fair access to China.
Emerging Technologies, Shared Futures
As Africa positions itself within the evolving global tech landscape, Tuggar warned against historical exclusions repeating themselves, particularly with artificial intelligence.
He called for inclusive innovation and fair access to AI infrastructure, satellite technology, and digital partnerships with China, his words as he cautioned, “We don’t want to repeat the story of the Industrial Revolution, where Africa bore the cost of pollution without reaping the benefits, the same must not happen with AI. We must share in the benefits, not just the burdens.”
Beyond government-to-government agreements, several commercial partnerships are underway, particularly in space tech and digital solutions.
The Minister confirmed that private sector players are actively negotiating with Chinese counterparts on satellite development and artificial intelligence applications tailored to Africa’s needs.
The Changsha Ministerial Meeting is a key step in preparing for the next Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit. Delegates from across the continent are gathered to evaluate progress and align priorities, with a particular emphasis on trade expansion, industrialization, and digital development.
Patricia Esami-Lubba is a Nigerian journalist and diplomatic correspondent, currently reporting from Changsha, Hunan Province. She covers high-level China-Africa engagements, including ministerial dialogues shaping the future of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
