Nigeria’s Ambassador-Designate to China, Amb. Abdulrahman Dambazau, says Nigeria’s relationship with China and other global powers will continue to be guided by national interest and strategic cooperation.
Dambazau stated this in an interview with journalists in Abuja.
He said the increasing interest of major global powers such as China, the U.S., Russia, and the United Kingdom in Nigeria reflects the country’s growing strategic importance in global affairs.
According to him, Nigeria must remain focused on protecting its sovereignty while building partnerships that align with its developmental and security priorities.
“We are in a multipolar world today where countries like China, Russia, and the U.S. all have interests.
“It is also an issue of globalisation where countries are trying to protect their interests, but as far as I am concerned, my focus is China,” he said.
Dambazau also noted that balancing relations among competing global powers is a delicate responsibility that involves strategic coordination by the Federal Government and relevant institutions.
He added that Nigeria’s long-standing non-aligned foreign policy tradition remains relevant in navigating emerging geopolitical realities.
“We have our interests to protect. Certainly, we are not rivals with any country.
“So, national interest comes first. If our interests coincide with the interests of any country, then we can partner,” he said.
The ambassador-designate also identified insecurity as one of Nigeria’s major challenges, stressing that the problem had regional implications requiring stronger international cooperation.
According to him, addressing insecurity effectively will require collaboration with neighbouring countries and strategic international partners.
“We have issues of insecurity in Nigeria, and this insecurity is not just a Nigerian problem; it is a regional problem.
“We need to partner with our neighbours and strategic partners to tackle it,” he said.
Furthermore, Dambazau said that his mission in China will focus on maximising Nigeria’s gains through stronger diplomatic, economic, and strategic engagement.
He said protecting the interests of Nigerians in China and promoting the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda would form key aspects of his responsibilities as well.
His remarks come amid intensifying geopolitical competition among major world powers, particularly the U.S., China, and Russia, over influence in Africa and other developing regions.
In recent years, China has significantly expanded its footprint in Africa through infrastructure financing, trade, investment and development partnerships under initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
The U.S. and its Western allies have also renewed engagement with African countries, including Nigeria, focusing on security cooperation, democratic governance, energy transition and economic investment.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country and largest economy, has increasingly attracted global attention because of its strategic location, vast market, natural resources and regional influence in West Africa.
China is one of Nigeria’s largest trading partners and a major investor in infrastructure, rail transportation, energy and telecommunications projects across the country.