China and Nigeria have formalised a new development cooperation agreement aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and expanding collaboration in key areas of national development.
The agreement was signed on October 29, 2026, in Abuja by Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, and Nigeria’s Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, on behalf of their respective governments.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Ambassador Yu highlighted the growing relationship between both countries, noting that their partnership had recorded significant progress in political engagement and practical cooperation in recent years.
He attributed the progress to the strategic direction provided by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, adding that bilateral relations had continued to advance towards a new phase of high-quality development.
According to the ambassador, China remains committed to supporting Nigeria’s economic and social development while strengthening existing areas of cooperation.
He also expressed China’s readiness to work with Nigeria to implement the key understandings reached by both presidents during their meeting, alongside the resolutions and outcomes of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing Summit.
Yu further emphasised the importance of aligning China’s 15th Five-Year Plan with Nigeria’s Renewed Hope Agenda, describing the partnership as an opportunity for both countries to pursue shared modernisation objectives and improve the welfare of their respective populations.
In his remarks, Minister Bagudu acknowledged China’s longstanding contributions to Nigeria’s development, expressing appreciation to the Chinese government for its continued support and assistance.
He described China as a dependable development partner and reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening cooperation between the two nations.
The minister also pledged that the Nigerian government would work towards ensuring the prompt and effective implementation of projects and initiatives covered by the newly signed agreement.
He expressed optimism that the partnership would translate into tangible development gains and deliver greater benefits to Nigerians.
The agreement underscores the commitment of both countries to deepen their strategic partnership through sustained cooperation and closer alignment of their respective development priorities.
