China has signed a $30 million grant agreement with Nigeria to support small-scale development projects aimed at improving living conditions in communities across the country.
Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, said the grant would fund projects jointly selected by both countries, with emphasis on practical interventions that could deliver results without requiring huge investments.
Speaking at the agreement signing, Dunhai described the projects as “small but beautiful”, saying they were designed to improve the livelihoods of Nigerians.
“The funds will be used on projects mutually agreed upon by our two sides. We call them ‘small but beautiful’, meaning projects that require less input, deliver quick returns and directly benefit the livelihood of Nigerian people,” he said.
The ambassador said the assistance came without political conditions, adding that China respected Nigeria’s sovereignty and development priorities.
“Chinese assistance fully respects Nigeria’s sovereignty and aligns with Nigeria’s own development goals. There are no political conditions or strings attached whatsoever,” Dunhai said.
He linked the grant to agreements reached by the leaders of both countries and commitments made at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit in Beijing in 2025.
Dunhai noted that Nigeria and China would mark 55 years of diplomatic relations in 2026. He said ties between the countries had strengthened since they elevated their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2024.
On trade, the ambassador said bilateral trade between Nigeria and China reached $18 billion in the first half of 2026. He also said Nigeria’s exports to China had risen by 80 per cent following the introduction of China’s zero-tariff policy for eligible African exports.
He urged Nigeria to take advantage of the arrangement to expand exports, attract investment and develop higher-value industries before the policy’s stated expiration date of May 1, 2028.
In his remarks, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, thanked the Chinese government for its support and said Nigeria must ensure the grant translated into real benefits for its citizens.
“Our responsibility is to translate this commitment into tangible benefits for all Nigerians,” Bagudu said.
He disclosed that his ministry, working with the China-Nigeria Strategic Partnership Office, had received proposals from states for small-scale projects. The proposals would be reviewed and consolidated to identify projects that address local needs and support national development priorities.
Bagudu also invited Chinese experts to study the results of an economic mapping exercise covering Nigeria’s 8,809 wards, saying their expertise could help the country accelerate development at the grassroots.
He said Nigeria could draw lessons from China’s experience in poverty reduction through targeted interventions, adding that the government was ready to work with Chinese experts to identify ways to improve development outcomes across the country.
The minister reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with China, saying the government would work to ensure that projects supported by the grant delivered practical benefits to communities.
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