DYNAMICS AND IMPLICATIONS OF NIGERIA-CHINA BILATERAL RELATIONS ON INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA (2015 -2024)

Abstract

This study examined the dynamics and implications of Nigeria–China bilateral relations on infrastructural development in Nigeria between 2015 and 2024. The research was motivated by the need to address existing gaps in the literature, which tend to emphasize economic benefits while overlooking the structural imbalances, governance challenges, and socio-economic costs associated with Chinese-financed infrastructural projects. Guided by the Liberal Institutionalism theory, the study employed an explanatory research design to analyze texts, documents, and reports using content analysis. The findings revealed that while Chinese investments and technical expertise contributed significantly to Nigeria’s infrastructural growth, they also heightened Nigeria’s dependency risks, deepened external debt exposure, and reinforced reliance on foreign technical capacity. The study further emphasized the importance of strong institutional frameworks in ensuring sustainable engagement and mutual benefit. Consequently, the study recommended that Nigeria should strengthen governance frameworks, improve quality control mechanisms in project execution, and promote institutional accountability to mitigate dependency risks while optimizing the developmental benefits of cooperation with China.