Nigeria-china Trade Relations And National Development In Nigeria

1.2  Statement of Research Problem

The foundation of Nigeria-China relations dates back to the early 1960‘s when Chinese delegation visited Nigeria in 1964 seeking to establish diplomatic ties with the country. Ever since then, Scholars of foreign policy have produced research works on the bilateral relationship that exist between Nigeria and China. This research examines the Nigeria – Chinese economic and trade relations; trends, problems, and prospects from 2011– 2015. It is a scholarly investigation into the economic and trade relations between China and Nigeria. It investigates the nature and character of the economic and trade relations and proffers answers to such fundamental questions as:  

1  Has the Nigeria-China bilateral trade agreements enhanced the volume of Chinese trade with Nigeria within the period of study?

2  Has the increase in the volume of Nigeria-China trade enhanced economic development in Nigeria within the period of study?

1.3 Objective of the Study 

The Nigerian government in the era of globalism is into different relations with countries in order to boost its economy. However, the opening of its borders and ties to China has increased tremendously compared to most countries of the world. This study has both broad and specific objectives. The broad objective of the study is to analyze the impact of the Nigeria-China trade relations on economic development within the period, 2011-2015. Specifically, the study intends: 

1. To ascertain if the Nigeria-China bilateral trade agreements has enhanced the volume of Chinese trade with Nigeria within the period of study. 2. To determine whether the increase in the volume of Nigeria-China trade has enhanced economic development in Nigeria within the period of study. 

1.4 Significance of the Study 

The significance of this study cannot be underestimated. This study will lay emphasis on general historic knowledge of bilateral relation between Nigeria and China especially in the areas of bilateral trade, economic relations, politics and cultural relations.

The findings of this research work will undoubtedly provide the much needed information to government, organizations on the opportunities provided by the trade partnership between Nigeria and China, and the nature of economic relations and its effects on national development in Nigeria. The importance of this study to the field of International Relations is that this study relates the importance of bilateral trade relations as a means of change and development, most certainly when the nations involved are in need of each other.  

1.7 Scope and Limitation 

 This study intends to cover the period 2011 – 2015 of China and Nigeria trade and economic relations. Tracing some of the important contents of the Nigeria – Chinese relations involving social, economic, trade and political relations. Emphasis will focus on the trade partnership and economic relations between Nigeria and China,  starting particularly from 2011 during Goodluck Jonathan's tenure to 2015. Trade agreements, partnerships, economic advancement efforts and mechanisms to achieving the trade relations would be reviewed. This study therefore examines economic and trade relations between the two countries, meticulously looking at the trends, problems and prospects. This study was constrained by a number of factors just like any other research, ranging from unavailability of needed accurate materials on the topic under study, inability to get data on the progress made so far on trade from both countries, and inaccessibility to cooperate bodies engaged actively in the trade. However, efforts were made to overcome some of these shortcomings through adequate use of secondary sources of data collection.