There are roughly 30,000–50,000 Chinese in Nigeria (statements by the Chinese ambassador in 2017 and 2020), plus 6,035 Chinese contract workers at the end of 2024. Most live in Lagos, Abuja and Kano and in the two Chinese-developed zones, Lekki and Ogun-Guangdong, working in construction contracting, trade and manufacturing.
The main Chinese organisation is the China General Chamber of Commerce in Nigeria, founded in Abuja in 2011, and Lagos has two more Chinese business associations. China has an embassy in Abuja and a consulate-general in Lagos.
History and size
China and Nigeria established diplomatic relations in February 1971 and upgraded to a comprehensive strategic partnership in September 2024 [1]. From the 1990s, many Chinese private traders came to Lagos and a “China Town” grew up. A 2019 study by Shaonan Liu of Beijing Normal University describes its rise and decline: some officials shared interests with Chinese traders, while other agencies raided China Town in the name of protecting local industry [2].
Construction of the Lekki Free Zone began in 2006 and it was recognised as a Chinese government-supported overseas cooperation zone in 2010; the Ogun-Guangdong zone was among MOFCOM’s first certified national-level overseas zones. Chinese contractors work mainly on roads, railways, power, telecoms, aviation and oil projects [1].
This site uses an estimate of about 30,000–50,000. MOFCOM figures show 2,867 Chinese workers sent to Nigeria during 2024 and 6,035 there at year-end [1]. There is no accurate census and estimates vary widely. For comparisons, see Chinese population in Africa.
Where Chinese live and work
- Lagos: the biggest business city, with traders and factories. The Lekki Free Zone on the Lekki Peninsula had 66 operating companies as of October 2025; the Chinese consulate-general and companies such as CNOOC Nigeria are on Victoria Island and in Lekki [1].
- Ogun State: the Ogun-Guangdong zone has over 170 registered companies making ceramics, glass, galvanised pipe, nappies and non-woven fabric [1].
- Abuja: home of the Chinese Embassy and the Nigerian headquarters of large firms such as CCECC, CGC, China Harbour and Huawei [1].
- Kano and the north: the MOFCOM guide lists Kano as one of the main cities with Chinese residents [1].
Chinese companies in Nigeria work mainly in contracting, oil, economic zones, hydropower, agriculture, telecoms, mobile payments, cross-border e-commerce, logistics, textiles, food, household goods, building materials and vehicle assembly [1]. For company registration, see Registering a company in Nigeria.
Chambers and associations
Chinese business associations listed in the 2025 MOFCOM guide [1]. Some emails and phone numbers are old, so confirm before relying on them.
| Name | City | Address and contact |
|---|---|---|
| China General Chamber of Commerce in Nigeria | Abuja | Plot No.674 Musa Yaradua Way, Cadastral Zone COO, Institute & Research District, Abuja; tel. 00234-8139600302; cgcc@cgccnig.com |
| Lagos Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry | Lagos | Plot 935, Idejo Street off Adeola Odeku Street, Victoria Island, Lagos |
| Nigeria Chinese Trading Companies Association | Lagos | 4th Floor, 138/146 Broad Street, Lagos |
The China General Chamber of Commerce was founded and registered in Abuja in July 2011 and had 182 member companies according to the MOFCOM guide. The presidency has alternated between CCECC and CGC; terms have been three years since 2017, and CCECC has held it since 2023 [1]. The chamber:
- represents members to Nigerian authorities, helps resolve disputes and handle emergencies, and keeps contact with the police, immigration, customs and the NIPC [1];
- runs talks on immigration, law, tax, localisation, security and health [1];
- organises counter-terrorism drills with the embassy and commercial office [1];
- holds yearly basketball, football and badminton matches, photography and cooking contests, and Spring Festival and Mid-Autumn galas [1].
WeChat groups and information channels
The chamber runs the “Home of Chinese Enterprises in Nigeria” QQ and WeChat groups for real-time news and security alerts [1]. Newcomers can join through their employer or the chamber. For security alerts and document rules, the Chinese Embassy website is the authoritative source; in April 2026 the embassy also asked all Chinese citizens in Nigeria to complete overseas citizen registration [6].
We have not verified any Chinese-language newspaper or website published in Nigeria, so none is listed here.
China Town and Chinese shops
Lagos China Town is the best-known Chinese commercial area in Nigeria. It grew from the 1990s and later declined after repeated raids by the authorities [2]. We have not verified the names of Chinese supermarkets and malls currently open; ask the chambers or local Chinese residents, and check the risk level of the area first, see Nigeria safety guide.
Chinese embassy and consulate
| Office | Website and contact | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese Embassy in Nigeria (Abuja) | ng.china-embassy.gov.cn; consular protection +234-(0)7040702408 | Areas outside the Lagos consular district |
| Economic and Commercial Office | Plot 302-303, Diplomatic Drive, Central Area, Abuja; tel. 00234-7026035698; abuja-ng@mofcom.gov.cn | Filing for Chinese companies |
| Chinese Consulate-General in Lagos | lagos.china-consulate.gov.cn; consular protection +234-(0)9162791792 | 20 southern states: Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti, Ondo, Kogi, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Anambra, Imo, Rivers, Enugu, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Nasarawa, Benue, Ebonyi, Cross River, Taraba |
Sources: embassy website [3], consular phone numbers [5], consulate website [4], commercial office and consular districts [1]. For passport renewal, see Renewing a Chinese passport abroad; for a general overview, see Nigeria guide for Chinese residents.
References
- Country Guide for Outbound Investment and Cooperation: Nigeria (2025 edition) (MOFCOM / CAITEC / Economic and Commercial Office of the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, December 2025)
- China Town in Lagos: Chinese Migration and the Nigerian State Since the 1990s (Shaonan Liu, Journal of Asian and African Studies, 2019)
- Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Nigeria (Embassy of China in Nigeria, accessed 2026)
- Chinese Consulate General in Lagos (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, 2024)
- Nigeria travel risk levels and safety reminder (Embassy of China in Nigeria and Consulate-General in Lagos, 2 September 2026)
- Reminder to all Chinese citizens in Nigeria to complete overseas citizen registration (Embassy of China in Nigeria, 22 April 2026)