Link: https://allafrica.com/view/group/main/main/id/00076751.html
Nigeria and China just marked 50 years of diplomatic relations. Throughout these 50 years China has become a vital partner for the Nigerian economy, defense, and infrastructure development. And for China, Nigeria has become one of their biggest investments- largest export market in Africa, and number one of China’s top 40 trading partners globally. China also assisted Nigeria with their fight against COVID, which was much necessary for the African country. Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari hails China’s support and sees 2021 as the most important year for China- Nigeria relations in this COVID recovery. Within these 50 years of relations the trade volume between China and Nigeria has increased by 1,900 times, says Nigeria’s deputy ambassador.
For the Sub- Saharan region, hopefully this relationship between China and Nigeria encourages other economic superpowers to become active with African countries in need, and give them the same help that Nigeria received. By investing in relations with underdeveloped African countries, not only can we improve their economies and national welfare, but it could limit the amount of corruption within their governments and hopefully limit the ongoing conflicts between African countries. Nigeria is a prime example of what a relationship with a global superpower can do, Nigeria is now Africa’s leading economy and it is hard to see them holding that status without China’s help.
As we know Africa is a shatterbelt region, mostly poverty stricken and controlled by extreme corruption and communism. Through economic and defensive assistance all human rights violations by corrupt government officials can be eliminated, and we can push these countries towards industrialization that will keep their economy stable. Although Nigeria is not near as powerful as China, there is reason to believe that they used geopolitics as a method of creating this relationship. Nigeria’s geographic location seemed appealing to the Chinese government as they sought new trade opportunities in a new market.