Bello-Dambazau vows to deepen trade, strategic ties with China

Abdulrahman Bello-Dambazau, Nigeria’s new Ambassador to China, has pledged to strengthen diplomatic, economic and security cooperation between Nigeria and China while safeguarding Nigeria’s national interests.

Speaking in an interview with BusinessDay, on his diplomatic mission, at the NACCIMA ‘s national meeting in Kano, Bello-Dambazau said his primary responsibility as ambassador is to represent Nigeria and protect the interests of Nigerians in China, while also building on the foundations laid by his predecessors.

“I am in China to represent Nigeria as a whole, and anything that concerns Nigeria’s interests, I am there to protect it. I am not the first ambassador to China, so I will reinforce the legacies left by those before me,” he said.

The envoy noted that relations between the two countries remain dynamic, with emerging opportunities in governance, trade, commerce, security and broader economic cooperation.
Nigeria and China currently maintain one of the largest bilateral trade partnerships in Africa, with trade volume estimated at over $20 billion annually. However, the balance of trade heavily favours China, with Nigeria largely importing machinery, electronics and manufactured goods while exporting mainly crude oil and a limited range of raw materials.

Bello-Dambazau said strengthening trade relations and expanding areas of economic cooperation would be among his priorities as he begins his assignment in Beijing.
He emphasized that the evolving nature of global diplomacy requires constant engagement to ensure Nigeria benefits from emerging opportunities.

“Things are dynamic and opportunities arise at any time. My duty is to reinforce the relationship between Nigeria and China at all levels, whether governance, trade, commerce, security or the broader economy,” he said.

The ambassador added that while he has outlined a vision for advancing Nigeria–China relations, his actions would be guided by consultations with the Nigerian government and national policy objectives.

According to him, Nigeria’s diplomatic mission in China will continue to pursue initiatives that strengthen bilateral ties while promoting economic opportunities for Nigerians.
“You can rest assured that anything that protects the interests of Nigeria and Nigerians, I will be there for it,” he said.