Nigeria, China to Deepen Power Sector Partnership – Adelabu
Favour Rotimi
The Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has called for stronger strategic collaboration between Nigeria and China, describing it as vital to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Adelabu made the call during a meeting with the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, where he emphasized that deeper ties must also support the Federal Government’s local content drive and help preserve foreign exchange.
The Minister praised the long-standing bilateral relationship, noting that trade volume between both countries has reached $20 billion. He highlighted key Chinese-backed energy projects, including the $1.4 billion Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant and the $2.5 billion transmission project for the Eastern and Western super grid.
“Nigeria is the biggest economy in Africa and China is the biggest in Asia,” Adelabu said, proposing quarterly review meetings to track progress in the power sector.
He further urged Chinese companies to strengthen local capacity through training and technology transfer, while also calling on Beijing to curb the export of substandard products to Nigeria. “China produces high-quality goods, but the proliferation of inferior items harms Nigerian consumers. There must be a minimum standard,” he stressed.
In his remarks, Ambassador Yu Dunhai reaffirmed Nigeria’s strategic importance in China’s Africa policy and pledged full cooperation with the Power Ministry. He described electricity as the “blood of industry” and commended Nigeria’s youthful population and large market as key drivers for future growth.
