Take Swift Advantage Of Nigeria-China Aquatic Deal, Minister Urges Exporters

…As bilateral trade hits $18bn in H1

The minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has urged Nigerian exporters to move swiftly to take advantage of the newly signed Nigeria-China Aquatic Products Protocol, describing the agreement as a landmark opportunity to boost the country’s export earnings, deepen foreign exchange inflows and open fresh doors for Nigerian businesses in the world’s most populous consumer market.

The minister gave the charge during a courtesy visit and reception held in honour of the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, H.E. Yu Dunhai, following the formal signing of the Protocol. The Ambassador was accompanied by Zhu Songbo, the Embassy’s Chief of Political Section, alongside the deputy director of the Embassy’s Economic and Commercial Section. Also present were the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS), Dr Vincent Isegbe, and representatives of the Federal Ministry of Justice and the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership (NCSP).

The Protocol, the product of almost five years of painstaking negotiation between both countries, grants eligible Nigerian aquatic products zero-tariff access to China’s market of 1.4 billion consumers — a development stakeholders say could significantly reposition Nigeria’s non-oil export earnings if properly harnessed.

Speaking at the event, Minister Tegbe commended the Chinese Ambassador for his sustained support of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership, noting that the relationship had continued to yield impressive trade results. He disclosed that bilateral trade between the two countries had already hit $18 billion in the first half of 2026 alone, compared to $28 billion recorded for the entirety of 2025 — a pace he described as evidence of the rapidly deepening economic ties between Abuja and Beijing.

“This Protocol should not sit on paper,” the minister said, stressing that its true value would only be realised through prompt and deliberate implementation. He urged Nigerian exporters to act decisively, warning that windows of opportunity such as this do not remain open indefinitely and that early movers stood to gain the most from the zero-tariff arrangement.

He added that the success of the Aquatic Protocol would serve as a template for fast-tracking other trade initiatives, including the broader Zero Tariff Agreement, which is being extended to African countries.

Responding, Ambassador Yu Dunhai reaffirmed the Chinese Embassy’s commitment to supporting the Protocol’s implementation and facilitating the entry of qualified Nigerian exports into the Chinese market. He described Minister Tegbe’s appointment as a reflection of his leadership, vision and pragmatism, and cited a 35 per cent rise in overall bilateral trade, alongside an 80 per cent surge in Nigerian exports to China, in the first half of 2026, as proof of the untapped potential still available in the relationship. The Ambassador further pledged the Chinese government’s continued support for Nigeria’s efforts to modernise and expand its power infrastructure.

In his remarks, the comptroller-general of NAQS, Dr Vincent Isegbe, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to providing compliance support for exporters seeking to meet Chinese market standards. He noted that the current global demand for aquatic products could potentially double Nigeria’s exports to China if the country properly leveraged the new access, and flagged the possibility of similar market-access deals being extended to other agricultural and fishery products in the near future.

Representing the private sector, Atlantic Shrimpers — a firm whose engagement with the Chinese market dates back to 2018 — said it was already prepared to commence exports under the new Protocol, disclosing that it had identified interested buyers on the Chinese end and was simply awaiting the operational rollout of the agreement.

At the end of the engagement, stakeholders agreed to prioritise implementation and measurable outcomes going forward, with the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership expected to continue to drive deeper economic cooperation, increased exports, and sustainable opportunities for Nigerian businesses in the months ahead.