Nigeria-China Bilateral Relations: The Current Challenges, 2015-2020

Abstract

The year 2020 marked the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and China. Despite the functioning of Sino-Nigerian bilateral relations, Nigerians have resented and criticized every socio-economic interaction. Concern was raised about the alleged disadvantages on Nigeria's fragile economy by the dumping of inferior Chinese industrial products in Nigeria. Some scholars claim that Nigeria's investment in China has less opportunities to survive due to the restrictions on employment and visa restrictions faced by many Nigerians to explore business opportunities in China. It is against this backdrop, this study examined the relationship between Nigeria and China, accessing their strategic relevance and the current challenges in their bilateral relations. The study also pinpoint into Sino-Nigeria relations during the novel corona virus. This work adopts the historical method of discuss and analysis in understanding the Nigeria-China bilateral relations from 2000 till the covid-19 era. In other to properly do this, this paper looks at primary and secondary sources such as books, newspaper reports, interviews, journal articles among others. The study adopted the Neoliberal Institutionalism theory to explain Sino-Nigeria bilateral relations. The findings from the study showed that the bilateral relations benefited China more in terms of trade, its unwillingness to assist Nigeria curb unemployment challenges and the failure to transfer technology to Nigeria. Given that the relationship is lopsided, the study concludes that Nigeria’s problems cannot be solved by China as the former must learn from China’s hard way to industrialization.