Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has urged the Chinese government to back Nigeria’s bid for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership.
Abbas made the appeal during a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang on the sidelines of the 2025 China International Import Expo in Shanghai. He said Nigeria’s growing influence in Africa and global affairs makes it a strong candidate for the position, adding that such support would benefit both nations and the world at large.
The Speaker highlighted ongoing legislative reforms to strengthen Nigeria’s investment climate, including updates to finance, trade, and tax laws. He proposed the creation of a Nigeria-China Legislative Cooperation Framework to deepen parliamentary ties and promote dialogue on governance and innovation.
Abbas also identified three key areas for stronger partnership: technological sovereignty, green industrialisation, and human capital exchange. He called for collaboration in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, renewable energy, and education, citing the Zungeru Hydropower Project as a model for sustainable growth.
He revealed that negotiations are nearly complete for a major Nigeria-China partnership to revive the Ajaokuta Steel Company, which he said would become the largest of its kind.
Premier Li Qiang commended Nigeria-China relations, describing them as being on a “fast track of development.” He reaffirmed China’s commitment to expand cooperation in trade, investment, mining, and infrastructure, and pledged support for Nigeria’s greater role in global affairs through partnerships within BRICS, the UN, and the WTO.
