Nigeria and China Join Forces: The Future of Military Training and Arms Production

• China announces CN¥1 billion grant for Nigeria and others to train over 7,000 military troops.

The federal government says it is expanding its security collaboration with the People's Republic of China to include local arms production and military training.

It believes this is part of a bigger effort to combat terrorism and other types of insecurity both within and outside its borders.

Yusuf Tuggar, Nigeria's Minister of Foreign Affairs, announced this while briefing State House media following President Bola Tinubu's meeting with China's Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja on Thursday.

Wang Yi is on a four-week Africa tour that culminates on Saturday with stops in Namibia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, and Chad.

Tuggar noted that increasing coordination with key partners such as China would allow Nigeria and its neighbours to respond to shared dangers more effectively.

"We want to collaborate with countries like China to increase domestic manufacture of military equipment, both kinetic and non-kinetic.

"We're looking for this so we don't have to go out seeking for it, which can be time-consuming and complicated by rules and regulations. "We need to be able to produce locally," he explained.

Tuggar's announcement comes after the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, stated that armaments purchase was the military's tightest bottleneck.

The Defence Chief stated that this difficulty, combined with the government's desire for self-sufficiency, was prompting Nigeria to investigate ways to domesticate arms production with Chinese assistance.

During an operational visit to the frontline troops of Operation Safe Haven in Plateau State, Musa stated that the military high command may employ trained law-abiding locals to domestically manufacture firearms and military-grade equipment.

Tuggar reiterated this stance on Thursday, dispelling the notion that Nigeria would rely on private military contractors to address its security concerns. He also emphasized Nigeria's role as a leader in West African security, particularly in the Sahel.

"Let us work together to solve our problems on our own. Let us reject the idea of letting others fix our problems for us. So it makes no difference to us if private military firms come from the north, south, east, or west. "We don't believe it will provide the panacea," Tuggar added.
“But when you (China) work with us, we can lead others in solving the problem. Nigeria is a highly responsible country that follows the constitution, thus we've never had any expansionist aspirations.

"This is why people believe so strongly in us and our leadership. And we will continue to collaborate with countries like China to tackle these concerns."

Meanwhile, Nigeria and China have rejected outsider meddling in African security concerns, confirming their support for African-led solutions to regional peace and stability.

Wang Yi, China's Foreign Minister, also briefed State House media on his country's opposition to foreign engagement in African domestic affairs, emphasizing the significance of African governments leading their own peacekeeping and counterterrorism efforts.

Wang reaffirmed Beijing's full support for steps to enhance the continent's security, including a CN¥1 billion military assistance package.

This also includes training 6,000 military people and 1,000 police and law enforcement officers for various African countries, as well as providing support to the African Standby Force and fast response units.
"China would strongly support Africa's efforts to develop its peacekeeping and security capacities. We will partner with Africa to implement the Global Security Initiative (GSI) and set a good example of cooperation.We will advance the cooperation action for common security by providing CN¥1 billion in military support to Africa, as well as training 6000 military people and 1000 police and law enforcement professionals in African countries.

"China will also continue to support the development of African standby and rapid response forces, as well as African countries' counter-terrorism peacekeeping operations." 

"China will firmly support Africa in safeguarding its legitimate rights and interests, practising true multilateralism, and not allowing power politics and bullyism to take root in Africa," Wang stated.

Chinese authorities also said that their country will evaluate Nigeria's proposal to broaden the bilateral currency swap deal.

This came as Tinubu urged the Chinese government to raise Nigeria-China's $2 billion currency swap in order to boost bilateral trade.

Tinubu also urged for an increase in the $50 billion aid package for Africa proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping last year.

Inked in 2018, the swap between the People's Bank of China and the Central Bank of Nigeria was valued at CN¥15 billion, equivalent to around N720 billion (nearly US$2.5 billion at the time).

The deal was intended to assist stabilize Nigeria's foreign reserves and promote commerce and investment between the two countries by lowering dependency on the US currency.

Increased currency swaps, according to President Tinubu, will strengthen critical bilateral ties and accelerate Nigeria's infrastructure development.
"In the domain of currency swap, we continue to demand more. Given our program, the degree of government you have authorized for Nigeria is insufficient. It would be greatly appreciated if you could raise that. The President stated, "Our relationship should become stronger and more unbreakable."

Tinubu stated that greater dedication would be needed to meet the continent's infrastructure demands in relation to the $50 billion the Chinese government had promised to boost Africa. 

"I am pleased that you are a member of the highest decision-making body in China. We will want you to influence better project funding by using your position. First, thank you for helping to advance African development, and I say yes to the $50 billion in support.

He said, "We want to move as quickly as our other counterparts, and the infrastructure needs of Africa are greater than that."

Tinubu urged China to back Nigeria's application for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.

"You belong to the United Nations Security Council. The President stated, "We want you to use your power to make sure Nigeria wins the seat."

When he visited China last year, he expressed gratitude to President Xi Jinping for the cordial welcome.

Wang stated that "it was a historical injustice by the world that should be corrected" and that Beijing would back an African nation in the UN Security Council.

China will welcome Nigeria's participation in the global development mechanism and BRICS membership, the foreign minister said. He declared China's full support for World Trade Organization Director General Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala's bid for a second term.

Speaking to reporters, Wang added that China would consistently vote in favor of Africa's justifiable concerns in the UN Security Council.

Africa will always receive China's vote at the UN Security Council, and we will keep advocating for the rightful representation of African nations in the global system. China, the world's second-largest contributor to peacekeeping efforts, will maintain helping the UN conduct peacekeeping missions in Africa.

Additionally, China will resolutely assist Africa in attaining security through development; we will collaborate with Africa to implement the 10 cooperation activities and effectively utilize the CN¥360 billion in funding support that was announced during the summit.

"We will work with Africa to address soil insecurity and achieve long-term stability through development by strengthening cooperation in a number of areas," he continued.

As the chair of ECOWAS and a major contributor to preserving peace and security in West Africa and the Sahel, Wang emphasized Nigeria's significant influence in Africa.

In order to achieve peace and stability in the region, Wang stated that "China supports Nigeria in rallying countries in the region to achieve strength through unity, to build synergy through reconciliation, and to promote security through cooperation, and China would like to make its contribution to that end to the best of its ability."

He expressed confidence in Nigeria's economic stability and underlined the momentum in bilateral financial connections, asking Nigeria to investigate issuing Panda bonds in China's markets.

Panda bonds are issued by overseas companies on the domestic bond market in China and are denominated in yuan.

Foreign governments, financial institutions, or businesses can raise money in mainland China by issuing these bonds, which provides them with direct access to China's investor base and liquidity.

Panda bonds can assist the issuing company in hedging against exchange rate risks and diversifying its sources of funding. Chinese investors also profit from more extensive RMB investment prospects without having to cope with currency conversions across borders.

Wang said that by drawing on these bonds, Nigeria would be able to generate extra income for important infrastructure projects like modernizing the railways, with safety guaranteed by focused financial support.

"The currency swap agreement demonstrates how effectively we have executed our financial cooperation and maintained its momentum," he said. We will examine and take into consideration Nigeria's request to expand the currency swap line.

"In many aspects, our financial collaboration is going well. For example, we applaud the issuance of Panda bonds. Because we are so confident in Nigeria's reputation, we welcome them to issue Panda bonds in China.

“We are working to contribute to Nigeria’s infrastructure development, especially the railway; issuing Panda bonds will help Nigeria generate good revenue and ensure safety through financial support.”

As a concrete illustration of continued collaboration, he also praised Chinese banks for their recent financial support of Phase III of Nigeria's railway modernization project.

For a detailed list of cooperative projects, he further urged interested parties to contact the Chinese Embassy.

Wang positioned the currency swap arrangement as a key tenet in the expanding connection between China and Nigeria, highlighting the depth and breadth of economic cooperation and expressing a desire for even stronger ties.

"The construction of phase three of the railway modernization project was financed by Chinese financiers and completed just a few days ago.

"There are a lot of specifics pertaining to our collaboration, and I suggest that you visit the Chinese Embassy for a comprehensive list. Our collaboration is all-encompassing overall, and we hope to strengthen it even further," he said.

Wang's visit comes after China-Nigeria relations were elevated to a comprehensive strategic partnership last year with the goal of enhancing mutual prosperity, trade, agriculture, and finance.