Chinese Investment Infrastructure Financing Railway Development Economic Development External Debt Technology Transfer Sustainable Development

This study examines China and infrastructural development in Nigeria between 1999 and 2023, with particular attention to the evolution, nature, and impacts of Chinese involvement in key infrastructure sectors such as railways, roads, ports, and energy. It situates the analysis within the broader framework of Nigeria–China relations and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which has significantly expanded China’s infrastructural footprint in Nigeria since 2013. The study adopts a qualitative, descriptive approach relying on secondary sources, including journal articles, policy reports, and official documents. Findings reveal that China has become a dominant external partner in Nigeria’s infrastructure financing and construction, particularly through loans from the China Exim Bank and China Development Bank. Major projects such as the Lagos–Ibadan railway, Abuja–Kaduna rail line, and several highway and port developments demonstrate China’s central role in addressing Nigeria’s longstanding infrastructure deficit. Evidence suggests that these projects have improved connectivity, reduced transportation costs, enhanced trade facilitation, and contributed to job creation and technology transfer. However, the study also identifies significant challenges, including rising external debt exposure, concerns about project sustainability, delayed project execution in some cases, and debates over sovereignty and dependency. Critics argue that while infrastructural gains are visible, Nigeria’s heavy reliance on Chinese loans raises long-term fiscal and policy risks. The study concludes that China’s infrastructural engagement in Nigeria between 1999 and 2023 has been both transformative and contentious: transformative in addressing critical infrastructure gaps, yet contentious due to financial and governance implications. It recommends stronger contractual transparency, improved domestic capacity, and diversified funding sources to ensure sustainable infrastructural development in Nigeria.