The federal government on Wednesday received a $1 million grant from the People’s Republic of China to support flood relief efforts in northern Nigeria.
The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, disclosed this at the signing ceremony of the Exchange of Notes (E/N) with the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Yu Dunhai, in Abuja.
Bagudu said the aid would benefit communities worst hit by recent flooding in Kebbi, Jigawa, Sokoto, Borno, Taraba, and Adamawa states. He described the assistance as timely and a reflection of the growing cooperation between Nigeria and China in trade, infrastructure, agriculture, technology, and now disaster management.
He assured that the grant would be managed under a transparent framework to ensure it reaches intended beneficiaries effectively, noting that both governments had agreed to a joint monitoring and evaluation mechanism.
Ambassador Dunhai, while expressing condolences to victims of the floods, said China stood in solidarity with Nigeria, recalling that Beijing also experienced deadly flooding in July. He stressed that the grant demonstrated China’s confidence in Nigeria’s resilience and capacity to rebuild.
The envoy also highlighted broader bilateral relations, noting that President Xi Jinping recently announced zero-tariff treatment for 400 tariff lines for African countries with diplomatic ties to China, including Nigeria—a move he said would boost exports, create jobs, and support economic growth.
