Nigeria's Reliance on Chinese Investments and its Impact on Infrastructural Development

Despite decades of uninterrupted bilateral relations between Nigeria and China aimed at boosting economic development, challenges in infrastructural development persist in Nigeria. This study examines Nigeria’s reliance on Chinese investments and its impact on infrastructural development. The study explores the strategic relevance of China’s interest in Nigeria as a key partner in Africa and how this relationship has contributed to infrastructural development and sustainability through large-scale projects funded and executed by Chinese firms. It adopts the Complex Interdependence Theory alongside a survey method for data collection. Findings reveal that bilateral relations between Nigeria and China have played a significant role in addressing major economic challenges, including infrastructural deficits, poverty, unemployment, and broader economic development. The study also highlights the future prospects of this relationship. Based on these findings, the study concludes that a combination of strategic planning, enhanced collaboration, and optimal resource utilization is essential for Nigeria to sustain and improve the benefits of Sino-Nigerian relations on infrastructural development. It further recommends that Nigeria should reduce its overreliance on Chinese financing for infrastructure projects in order to strengthen its economic development and foreign policy autonomy as an African hegemon.