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The ambassador noted that the embassy and the Chinese
government have always admonished Chinese companies operating in Nigeria to
abide by rules and regulations, implement Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
and adhere to environmental and safety standards,
byPress Release May
18, 2025 Reading Time: 2 mins read
0
The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria has harped on the
imperative of enhanced collaboration between China and Nigeria in unlocking the
potential of Nigeria’s Solid Minerals sector through the establishment of
electric vehicle factories in Nigeria.
Speaking while paying a courtesy visit to the Minister of
Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake in his office at the weekend, Yu Dunhai
emphasised that Nigeria is a great country blessed with tremendous natural
resources, noting that China has always placed Nigeria in a very pivotal
position of her foreign policy.
Recalling the recent high-level engagement between
Presidents Bola Tinubu and Xi Jinping during Tinubu’s state visit to China, Mr
Dunhai noted that both leaders agreed to elevate bilateral relations to a
comprehensive strategic partnership, creating new opportunities for
cooperation.
“Chinese companies are already deeply involved in Nigeria’s
mining sector, from exploration to processing. We aim to deepen this
collaboration, especially in line with President Tinubu’s eight priority areas,
notably economic diversification through solid minerals,” he added.
The ambassador noted that the embassy and the Chinese
government have always admonished Chinese companies operating in Nigeria to
abide by rules and regulations, implement Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
and adhere to environmental and safety standards, stressing that the Chinese
authorities have zero tolerance for illegal mining, signifying their readiness
to work with the Nigerian government to bring suspected culprits to justice.
In his response, Mr Alake stated that Nigeria appreciates
its long-standing relations with China, acknowledging that most Chinese firms
operate within legal and regulatory frameworks. However, he expressed concern
over the actions of a few operators tarnishing China’s image, referencing a
recent viral video involving a Chinese national allegedly bribing local
security agents.
“We’ve taken action against illegal operators, including
some Chinese nationals. While isolated, such incidents undermine the good work
of many compliant Chinese firms. We need your cooperation in ensuring that such
culprits are brought to justice,” the minister asserted.
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The minister also highlighted the impact of the Mining
Marshals established to combat illegal mining affirming that the outfit has
sent the right signal in the sector, raised awareness about the menace and has
consequently improved compliance to regulations by both local and foreign
operators.
He reiterated that Nigeria is open for business to serious
investors, stressing that investments in the nation’s mining industry are now
focused on local value addition.
