Nigeria to enjoy zero tariff on export to China May 1
Effective from January 1, 2026, there will be zero tariff on all Nigerian goods exports to China, according to the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai. He broke the news
- From John Ofikhenua, Abuja
Effective from January 1, 2026, there will be zero tariff on all Nigerian goods exports to China, according to the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai.
He broke the news in Abuja during the "Project Inception Workshop on Small Hydropower Centre in Nigeria for Sustainable Energy Access and Capacity Building in Rural Electrification."
The ambassador recalled that the China and Nigeria signed the framework agreement on economic partnership for shared development.
The workshop was organized by the UNIDO.
His words, "Landmark projects under the banners of China investment, China construction, and China assistance, such as the Lekki Free Trade Zone, the Lekki Deep Sea Port, and the Zunguru Hydropower Station, the Federal Medical Center Abuja, so on and so forth, have provided strong support for Nigeria's economic development and public welfare.
"Notably, on March 26th, China and Nigeria signed the framework agreement on economic partnership for shared development. So we are now working together to ensure the zero-tariff policy takes effect on May 1st.
"That means starting from May 1st of this year, all Nigeria products, 100%, will enjoy zero tariff that will be exported to China."
He was confident that the agreement will provide a long-term stable and predictable institutional safeguard for the China- Nigeria cooperation, taking the pragmatic partnership to new heights.
China, he said, has always been a practitioner of true multi-lateralism and maintains a close partnership with UNIDO.
Dunhai recalled that over the past 55 years, Chuna economic and trade ties have deepened significantly, noting Nigeria is now one of China's most vital economic partners in Africa.
He added that in 2025, Nigeria -China bilateral trade volume surpassed US$28 billion, nearly 10 times the level in 2005.
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According to him, as the largest contributor to UNIDO's budget, China firmly supports the organization in leveraging its multilateral platform to continuously pull high-quality resources, helping developing nations enhance their industrialization and modernization.
He said as 2026 marks the beginning of China's 15th five-year plan, "we invite the world to share in our new development opportunities. At this new historical starting point, the embassy stands ready to work with the Nigerian government and UNIDO."
Dunhai said China and its partnership will accelerate the implementation of the Six Points proposal for China-Africa to jointly advance modernization and attain partnership actions announced by President Xi Jinping.
On the Small Hydropower Centre, he said "We will build the small hydropower center of excellence in Nigeria to the highest standards, setting a benchmark for similar projects across Africa to better the lives of African people."
