China expands trade lead over the U.S. in Nigeria
Official figures from the National Bureau of Statistics show a growing gap between Asian and Western commercial volume in the country.
In the first quarter of 2026, China supplied N5.10 trillion worth of merchandise to Nigeria, compared to N2.81 trillion coming from the United States.
The imbalance expanded further during the second quarter, when Chinese shipments climbed to N5.92 trillion, accounting for over 41% of Nigeria’s total import bill while goods arriving from the United States fell to N1.01 trillion, or just under 7%.
Major shipments from China spanned critical growth sectors, including solar panels, telecommunications equipment, agricultural machinery, and industrial inputs.
Because Nigeria exported only N1.09 trillion worth of goods back to China over the same period, the nation recorded a trade deficit of N9.92 trillion with Beijing, importing over ten times what it sent abroad.
Counterfeit concerns rise as trade grows between China and Nigeria
Alongside the influx of legitimate commerce, Nigerian regulatory agencies and industry representatives are raising alarms regarding the spread of illicit and substandard goods.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control highlighted a developing trend where foreign counterfeit networks set up operations directly inside local commercial hubs.
NAFDAC Director of Investigation and Enforcement Martins Iluyomade told The PUNCH that foreign imitators no longer rely on local traders travelling abroad.
Iluyomade stated, “Before, to fake a product, you needed to go to China to bring it. Now, you don’t need to go. They are here (in Nigeria) with us. They are the ones who will identify the product that will be moving, send it to their country (China), and then come here and distribute it to our people (Nigerians) without having to travel”.
He added that regulatory raids confirmed “Chinese people (counterfeiters) own the logistics companies which they used to bring these (fake goods) things”.
Local business groups caution that counterfeit items threaten legitimate enterprises across the country.
Source: Africabusinessinsider