The Ambassador-Designate of Nigeria to China, General Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (rtd), has stated that protecting the welfare and interests of Nigerians residing in China will be his top priority, alongside pursuing stronger bilateral cooperation in human capital development, infrastructure, health, education, agriculture, and security.
He stated this during a courtesy visit to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, ahead of his departure for China.
Ambassador Dambazau noted that China is home to a significant Nigerian population, largely concentrated in trade and commerce.
He stressed the need to work closely with NiDCOM to provide guidance and support for Nigerians in the country while encouraging them to remain worthy ambassadors of Nigeria.
Reflecting on the bilateral relationship, he noted that Nigeria and China have maintained formal diplomatic ties since 1971, a partnership that has grown over the decades through multiple high-level state visits.
He recalled President Tinubu’s 2024 visit to Beijing, during which China expressed support for the Renewed Hope Agenda and Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to the One-China Policy, as the most recent demonstration of that strong partnership.
Drawing on his background as a former Minister of Interior and Chief of Army Staff, Ambassador Dambazau stressed the need for security cooperation, noting that Nigeria stands to benefit from technical and strategic support from China in addressing its domestic security challenges.
Receiving the envoy, Dabiri-Erewa applauded him for being the first Ambassador-Designate to formally visit the Commission, noting that his extensive experience in governance and security would serve Nigeria’s diaspora community in China exceptionally well.
She also described him as a strategic networker whose connections would greatly benefit Nigerians living in the region.
The NiDCOM Chairman reaffirmed the Commission’s alignment with the federal government’s commitments, noting that the commission would rely on the Ambassador’s office to assist with data collection and the comprehensive documentation of Nigerians residing in China.
Dabiri-Erewa added that beyond the diplomatic dimensions of bilateral ties, Nigeria stands to gain significantly from China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
The initiative, she explained, presents concrete opportunities for investment in infrastructure, railways, ports, and trade corridors that could directly benefit Nigerian businesses and the broader economy. She emphasized that Nigerians in the diaspora, particularly those in China, are well-positioned to serve as bridges for these economic opportunities.
She also invited Ambassador Dambazau to participate in the upcoming 2026 National Diaspora Day, scheduled for July 24 to 25, themed “Harnessing Global Diaspora Medical Expertise to Strengthen Local Health Systems for National Development.”
She further extended invitations for the Nigeria Diaspora Economic Conference (NiDCEC) in Toronto from August 12 to 15, and the Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit (NDIS) in November 2026.