China is interested in Nigeria and the West is MAD !! But why?

In 2018, the White House criticised Chinese engagement in Africa, claiming that China was using bribes, opaque agreements, and debt to hold nationns in Africa captive to its interests. Okay. Criticizing your geopolitical rival is allowed.

The scary part is the U.S created a committee to explore Chinese activities in Nigeria, given its role on the continent, and its economic and demographic trajectories. We gotta realize Nigeria has the worlds 6th largest consumer market. 6th largest on the planet !!.

Nigeria is also Africa’s biggest economy so China is incentivised to ensure that Nigeria’s expanding middle class continues to buy Chinese manufactured goods. Nigeria offers Chinese companies a diverse range of lucrative commercial and trade opportunities, regardless of size.

As of May 2019, Chinese companies had invested $20 billion in over 150 firms in Nigeria. The importation of Chinese manufactured goods to Nigeria underpins the two countries’ trading relationship. In return Nigerian entrepreneurs make regular commercial pilgrimages to Chinese

manufacturing centres like Guangzhou where Chinese traders have come to rely on them for bulk purchases. China imported $1.5 billion from Nigeria in 2017, equivalent to less than 0.1% of its total imports.

But lets not kid ourselves. There are negative attritbutes to this. Chinese goods are flooding the Nigerian market in a way that is harming local businesses. For example cheap imports has killed Nigeria's domestic textile industry.

Ironically, many of the textile factories that have been forced to shut down were Chinese owned plants that had been operating in Kaduna since the 1970s. But lets be honest Nigeria has welcomed the opportunity to trade with a lower cost economy and enjoy cheaper merchandise.

Also while the U.S is trying to arm strong the Nigerian government to accept more NGOs and spread genocide propaganda, Chinese firms are executing more than $20 billion in rail construction contracts across Nigeria, including new commuter railways in Abuja and Lagos.

Perhaps more significant is in the area of security. China actively seeks to ensure security and stability in Nigeria. China sees its security interests in Nigeria as an offshoot of its trade priorities in the country.

This is unlike western countries who view security concerns as a major focus to gain a geostrategic advantage and actively deploy resources to work on this agenda. Think about it. The U.S and France are building drone bases, the Chinese are building train stations.

In 2014, Chinese officials vowed to help defeat Boko Haram. After President Obama torpedoed the deal Nigeria reach with Israel for attack helicopters and placed an arms embargo on Nigeria, China sold 5 armed attack drones to Nigeria.

Two years later the Nigerian Navy received two brand new Stealth offshore patrol vessels from China. A few months ago the Nigerian army received 3rd generation battle tanks, self propelled wheeled artillery guns, tank destroyers and anti-tank missiles.

No nation in Africa would have received such a diverse and sophisticated array of weapons from the west. It doesnt matter if the African nation offer to pay 10 times the amount. It will never happen. Lets not forget China launches our satellites into orbit.

Now..Im not a Chinese fanboy. However i am a realist. We have to realize China actively pursues a non-interventionist policy in Nigeria. Chinese security strategy in Nigeria is self protective and reactive. A stable Nigeria benefits China.

Does a stable Nigeria benefit nations who use the insecurity of Nigeria as an excuse to request billions of dollars in funding, build military bases and even create military alliances? Nigeria is in the middle of a global geopolitical struggle between the East and West.

Now i know nothing is free. The Chinese are in for theior own interest and we have to look at China with the same scepticism as it does the west..but who gives a damn if our interests overlaps? China’s attempts at helping resolve Nigeria’s security issues is to

..protect her economic and commercial interest. Who cares?