This flourishing relationship has been subjected to test by COVID-19 fallout. First, there were many videos of atrocious dehumanization by Chinese and Chinese authorities against Africans and Nigerians.
Profitable relationship on international arena thrives on mutual respect or mutual fear. At every point, there must be balance either in terms of respect or in terms of fear. International politics is a game of interest, and nobody wants to lose or be in an underprivileged position. Consequently, where there is no mutual respect or where existing mutual respect disappears, mutual fear plays a vital role in ensuring that the countries involved do not overstep their boundaries.
China first established its diplomatic relations with Nigeria, in 1971 with the Chinese Consulate office in Lagos. Ever since this relationship has continued to progress and recently, China has shown tremendous interest in Africa, which it sees as a valuable and formidable ally moving forward, and the Asian giant is investing in the relationship.
For instance, the Chinese government built the African Union (AU) office in Addis Ababa. China contributed not less than $32 million to complete the $200 million AU headquarter. Former Chinese leader Hu Jintao was the person who set the roadmap for modern relationships between Africa and China. Upon resumption of office in 2013, Xi Jinping has continued on that path.
The People’s Republic of China is also a top buyer of Nigeria’s crude oil.
Nigeria and China enjoy a special business relationship with massive Nigeria imports coming in from China. The People’s Republic of China is also a top buyer of Nigeria’s crude oil. As of September 2019, Nigeria’s crude oil export to China reached 3 million barrels, with a projection that by 2030, over 80% of China’s crude oil needs will come from Nigeria. The relationship has continued to thrive and benefit both countries.
In August 2019, Voice of America reported that the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), an equivalent of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), has invested about $16 billion in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. China’s influence in Nigeria is strong, much so that most imported items and gadgets in Nigeria are from China.
There is also a Confucius Institute located inside Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra state, a demonstration of China’s determination to deepen their relationship with Nigeria by teaching their language and culture to Nigerians. China’s general standing in the world can no longer be viewed as inconsequential.
In a 2015 summit in South Africa, Chinese leader Xi Jinping stated that China is ready to invest $60 billion in Africa. Already, there is a growing Chinese community in Nigeria and not just in a metropolis like Lagos but also commercial cities like Onitsha, Nnewi, and Aba. These centers of commerce have a concentration of industries that produce consumer products. Onitsha Main Market is also home to Chinese-owned shops and distribution centers. This is how far, and boundless Nigeria and China’s relationship has come.
It is therefore not surprising that a 2019 study reported that Nigeria is the most China-friendly country in the world. So prominent is the relation between these two countries that in 2018, during President Buhari’s visit to China for the Beijing summit on China-Africa cooperation, Chinese leader Xi Jinping told President Buhari in a meeting that “relationship between the two countries is at best in history.”
This flourishing relationship has been subjected to test by COVID-19 fallout. First, there were many videos of atrocious dehumanization by Chinese and Chinese authorities against Africans and Nigerians. One of the videos shows Africans forced out of their hotel rooms and thrown out to the streets. Many received injuries beyond recognition, and the reports kept coming. Nigeria’s diplomat, who was captured in a video standing up to the Chinese authorities and was seen forcefully retrieving ceased passports from Chinese authorities and right in their presence, gave the passports back to the owners. These videos went viral and the responses from Nigerians were strong but not unexpected. Critics have accused China of racism against Africans.
The recent Chinese offer to assist Nigeria with medical professionals was rejected by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), and other Nigerians who voiced concerns of suspicion owing to the secrecy surrounding the Wuhan COVID-19 outbreak. But also because of the manner Chinese authorities and Chinese citizens were captured on video and pictures, treating Nigerians in their country. In a swift response, the Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives summoned the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria to understand what is going on against Nigerians in China. The Ambassador was also queried by Nigeria’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, all within this week.
As Nigerians continue to experience severe stress and uncertainty brought about by the Coronavirus outbreak, it’s not hard to see how stories of the dehumanizing treatment meted out to Nigerians by Chinese authorities in China will further put a strain on ongoing Nigeria-China relations.
But it does appear that the explanations so far put forward for the dehumanization of Nigerians in China, are unacceptable to Nigerians. Only today, there was a report of a group of youths attacking a Chinese company located in a Free Trade Zone in Ogun state. As Nigerians continue to experience severe stress and uncertainty brought about by the Coronavirus outbreak, it’s not hard to see how stories of the dehumanizing treatment meted out to Nigerians by Chinese authorities in China will further put a strain on ongoing Nigeria-China relations.
With this first attack on Chinese business interest in Nigeria, many more may follow if proper care is not taken by the Nigerian and Chinese governments to restore confidence in the mutual respect that exists between the two countries. While Nigeria cannot match China in any form of military warfare, Nigeria and Nigerians can inflict grave damages on Chinese business interests and investments in Nigeria, and both sides have something to lose.
Nigerian government should also step in and make substantial demands in compensation to those Nigerians who were abused and brutalized in China. Also, Nigeria must ensure that their businesses are protected from vandalism and attacks, so that the two countries will continue to enjoy a better relationship in post-COVID-19, based on mutual respect.
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