By Maryam Suleiman Yusuf

Abuja, November 11 — A delegation of Chinese investors visited Nigeria’s National Assembly, where they were warmly received by Hon. Jaafaru Yakubu, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Nigeria-China Relations.

Hon. Yakubu described the visit as timely, reflecting the growing partnership between both nations. He noted that Nigeria is open to sustainable foreign investment, especially in agriculture, infrastructure, and construction. “Just a week ago, we visited China to seek investors, and your visit shows our cooperation is moving in the right direction,” he said. “Nigeria is ready to work closely with Chinese partners to promote economic growth and create more jobs for our youth.”

He added that he would present the outcome of the visit to the Governors’ Forum to encourage state governments to engage directly with Chinese investors.

Loi Eng Koon, Special Assistant to the Chairperson of the Chinese Women Association in Nigeria, introduced the delegation and expressed their interest in exploring new areas of cooperation. She also mentioned immigration-related challenges such as delays in visa and work permit renewals, noting that smoother processes would help boost investor confidence and strengthen business ties.

Hon. Yakubu emphasized that Nigeria and China should grow beyond trade relations into full development partnership. He noted that bilateral trade reached 23 billion dollars in 2023, with only 3 billion dollars from exports to China, and called for greater efforts to increase Nigeria’s export capacity and promote responsible resource management.

The visit reaffirmed the strong friendship between Nigeria and China and both sides’ commitment to practical cooperation based on trust and shared prosperity. The National Assembly, through the Nigeria-China Parliamentary Committee, also pledged legislative support to further improve the business environment and strengthen bilateral relations.