BILATERAL RELATIONS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: AN ASSESSMENT OF THE SINO-NIGERIA TRADE RELATIONS

Abstract

This paper examines the bilateral trade relations between Nigeria and China, focusing on how these interactions influence Nigeria's economic development. It explores the historical evolution of trade ties, analyzing key agreements, trade volumes, and the structure of traded goods. The objectives is to assess the impact of Chinese investments in Nigerian infrastructure, manufacturing, and other sectors, understanding how these economic exchanges contribute to or hinder Nigeria’s development goals. It also considers the challenges and opportunities presented by this bilateral relationship. The paper adopts a qualitative method of analysis with reliance on secondary sources of data as well as the theory of mercantilism as the theoretical framework of analysis. The study concludes that the Nigeria China trade relations has changed the direction of Nigeria’s trade from its traditional trading partners like the United States (US) and Western Europe (WE) toward China. The paper, however, suggests that Nigerian policymakers must navigate the complexities of the Sino-Nigeria carefully to ensure that the partnership yields sustainable benefits for the country’s development trajectory without
exacerbating existing dependency challenges.