The Federal Government of Nigeria has reaffirmed its opposition to the use of foreign mercenaries to address the country's security challenges, insisting that such measures do not offer a sustainable solution. Instead, the government has expressed strong interest in collaborating with China to localize the production of military equipment, thereby reducing dependence on external procurement and the delays associated with them.
This stance was emphasized on Thursday during a joint press briefing by Nigerian Foreign Minister, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, and his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The Chinese Foreign Minister was on an official visit to Nigeria to strengthen bilateral relations.
The visit underscores the deepening partnership between Nigeria and China, with both countries reaffirming their commitment to strategic cooperation to address regional security challenges and foster economic growth.
Speaking at the briefing, Ambassador Tuggar emphasized that private military companies, regardless of their origin, are not the solution to Nigeria's security problems. He called for collective efforts within the region and highlighted Nigeria's leadership role in addressing peace and security challenges on the continent.
“Nigeria has consistently demonstrated its ability to lead efforts to address security challenges across Africa. The idea of allowing others to solve our problems for us is not acceptable. We must focus on collaborative approaches and rely on our leadership to address these challenges,” Tuggar said.
He underlined the need for local production of kinetic and non-kinetic military equipment, adding: “We are looking to work with partners like China to localize production of military equipment. “This will eliminate unnecessary delays and ensure we are self-sufficient in addressing our security needs.”
The visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi builds on the achievements of President Bola Tinubu's state visit to China in 2024.
Tuggar highlighted discussions on mutual economic and political interests, as well as agreements in areas such as energy, agriculture, infrastructure and petrochemicals.
Wang Yi praised Nigeria's leadership in Africa and its plans to issue panda bonds in China under the currency swap agreement.
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Yi announced that the People's Republic of China is open to considering Nigeria's request to expand the bilateral currency swap agreement. Initially signed in 2018 between the People's Bank of China and the Central Bank of Nigeria, the deal is valued at 15 billion yen (approximately 720 billion naira or $2.5 billion at the time).
Wang also invited Nigeria to explore the issuance of Panda bonds in China's domestic bond market.
Panda bonds are renminbi-denominated bonds issued by foreign entities that offer access to China's financial markets.
Highlighting the potential benefits, Wang explained that the issuance of Panda bonds could provide Nigeria with an additional revenue stream to support critical infrastructure projects such as railway modernization. He assured that the initiative would have solid financial backing to ensure safety and reliability.
“China has full confidence in Nigeria's financial credibility and we welcome the issuance of panda bonds, which will improve revenues and support infrastructure development, including railway modernization projects,” Wang said.
Wang Yi also highlighted China's continued support for African nations to achieve peace and stability.
He affirmed China's opposition to foreign interference in African affairs and emphasized that “Africans are the true owners of this continent and have the wisdom and ability to solve their own problems.”
China pledged 1 billion yuan in military assistance to Africa, along with training programs for 6,000 military personnel and 1,000 law enforcement officers.
Wang added that China will support the African Union, subregional organizations and major African countries in resolving disputes through dialogue and political solutions.
Recognizing Nigeria's position as ECOWAS chair and key player in Africa, Wang Yi expressed China's willingness to support Nigeria in promoting regional unity, security and stability in West Africa and the Sahel region.
“China is committed to contributing to Nigeria's efforts to promote reconciliation and achieve peace and stability in the region,” Wang said.
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