By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – Professor of political economy, Pat Utomi, has traced the historical evolution of Nigeria’s relationship with China, saying the ties were shaped by diplomacy, ideology, trade, oil and changing global economic realities.
Utomi, in remarks posted on his X handle on Monday, said he had examined the historical foundations of China’s relationship with Africa and the narratives surrounding Beijing’s engagement with the continent.
According to him, China often highlights its early contacts with Africa, including the voyages of Chinese explorer Zheng He, to distinguish its engagement from the colonial experience associated with Western powers.
He said Chinese officials had frequently presented the history as evidence that China’s interest in Africa was fundamentally different from Western intervention.
However, Utomi noted that China-Africa relations had evolved over time and were not static.
He explained that during the early post-independence period, China’s economic engagement with Africa remained relatively limited, with language, cultural and economic barriers contributing to modest trade.
He added that China’s strategy at the time was also heavily influenced by the ideological contest of the Cold War.
Turning specifically to Nigeria, Utomi said the country was initially cautious in its relationship with China, but diplomatic ties gradually deepened, particularly around African liberation movements and Nigeria’s opposition to white minority rule in Southern Africa.
“Trade, however, developed much more slowly,” he said.
According to him, the relationship began to change significantly as China’s economy expanded and its demand for oil increased.
He noted that Nigerian crude oil became increasingly important to China, while Chinese goods and investments began entering the Nigerian economy on a much larger scale.
Utomi said the historical trajectory was important because it demonstrated that Nigeria’s relationship with China did not suddenly emerge in the 21st century.
“It evolved through diplomacy, ideology, trade, oil and changing global economic realities,” he said.
He stressed that understanding the historical development of the relationship was essential to properly appreciating Nigeria’s engagement with China today.
