Emerging Trends in Sino-Nigeria Relations: Implications for new Economic Development Options

Abstract

Emerging trends in Sino-Nigeria relations, anchored on the intricacies of China’s Foreign Direct
investment (FDI), powered by China’s ‘Going Global’ strategy envisioned by globalists as
beneficial for both parties’ economic development, constitute serious concerns for critical
analysts of African development who see the same as China’s covert promptings of Nigeria into
eternal bondage. Data obtained through ex -post facto research methodology were analyzed
under the model of national interest which posits that as statesmen are governed by their
respective national interest, which they pursue through various means in all their foreign
relations. In the course of this study, the findings showed that China is pursuing series of
tactically convoluted trade relations, investments and development financing for Nigeria, in
return for her unfettered access to the extraction and expropriation of Nigeria’s mineral resources
for her vested interests. Furthermore, China is stage-managing Nigerian leaders through a
labyrinth of subtleties and covert display of her super power capabilities to subjugate the nation.
Through multi-pronged agreements that carry ominous clauses, Nigerian leaders are entwined
into long term agreements for loans, infrastructural transformation and development financing,
which critical analysts see as Greek gifts with ominous outcome. This remains the lot of many
African nations in similar quagmire and hegemony powered by China’s ‘Going Global Strategy’,
that needs to be checkmated based on a re-evaluation and re-negotiation of agreements between
China and Nigeria to avoi