The economic relationship between China and Nigeria has grown into one of the most visible partnerships in Africa, with the country becoming the largest builder of infrastructure in Nigeria.
Over the past two decades, both countries have strengthened ties through trade, infrastructure financing, and investment driven by Nigeria’s need for capital and gaps in critical infrastructure industrial capacity and China’s search for markets, resources, and geopolitical influence.
Chinese firms have brought technical expertise, manpower, and financing that have accelerated the execution of large‑scale projects, with China’s direct investment in Nigeria reaching $ 690 million, rising by 103% in 2025.
Aside from this, trade figures highlight that in July 2025, trade between the two countries had risen by 34.7% to $15.48 billion, and by December, trade volume reached 28 billion US dollars, an increase of more than 28 percent year-on-year.
Today, hundreds of Chinese firms operate in Nigeria across a range of sectors, predominantly in construction, but also in manufacturing, telecommunications, and energy. As these companies continue to grow their footprint, they remain central players in Nigeria’s effort to expand and modernize its infrastructure.
Here are the top Chinese construction companies in Nigeria
China Gezhouba Group Corp. (CGGC) is a major Chinese construction and engineering company known internationally as part of the team that built the Three Gorges Dam, the world’s largest hydroelectric project.
- The company officially established its North Central and West Africa headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria, on October 26, 2016.
- One of CGGC’s most notable projects in Nigeria came in November 2017, when a consortium led by the company, including Sinohydro Corp. Ltd. and CGCOC Group Co. Ltd. signed a $5.792 billion contract with the Federal Government to construct the Mambilla Hydropower Project, a 3,050‑megawatt plant on the Donga River in Taraba State.
