Nigeria Emerges as China’s Top African Investment Hub with $24.5 Billion in 2025 Deals
Nigeria has officially become China’s largest investment destination in Africa, following the signing of new multi-billion-dollar agreements valued at over $24.5 billion in 2025 alone.
According to trade and diplomatic sources in Abuja and Beijing, the investments include $21 billion in major construction and infrastructure projects, alongside a fresh $3.5 billion partnership focused on solar energy plants, rail modernization, and industrial expansion.
The deals were sealed under the framework of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), marking a significant deepening of economic and strategic cooperation between the two nations.
Officials say the new investments will target key sectors including power generation, transport, and manufacturing, aimed at boosting Nigeria’s industrial output, expanding clean energy capacity, and modernizing rail networks connecting Lagos, Kano, and Port Harcourt.
Speaking during a joint briefing, Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Doris Uzoka-Anite, described the agreements as a “transformational opportunity” that would accelerate job creation and enhance the country’s global competitiveness.
“This partnership with China represents a long-term commitment to infrastructure-led growth. We are not just signing contracts; we are building the foundation for sustainable industrialization,” she said.
Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Cui Jianchun, also reaffirmed Beijing’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations, emphasizing that Nigeria remains “a strategic partner and gateway to African markets.”
The new wave of projects follows several high-profile Chinese-led ventures in Nigeria over the past decade, including the Lekki Deep Sea Port, Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant, and Abuja–Kaduna railway.
Analysts say the development positions Nigeria as a central hub for China’s economic interests in West Africa, potentially reshaping regional trade and investment patterns.
If fully implemented, the latest commitments could make Nigeria one of the fastest-growing recipients of foreign direct investment (FDI) in sub-Saharan Africa in 2025, according to projections by the African Development Bank (AfDB).
