Three vessels from China’s People’s Liberation Army navy docked in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial epicentre, marking a seldom seen visit to West Africa, a region where Beijing is keen to extend its influence. The fleet brought around 700 crew members ashore this past Sunday.
Statements from the Nigerian Navy and the Chinese Embassy on Monday underscored the significance of this five-day visit, pointing to the burgeoning relationship between Beijing and Africa, and the shared aim of tackling maritime security issues and preserving stability within the Gulf of Guinea.
Chidi Omeje, a security analyst, commended this development as a golden opportunity for Nigeria and Africa as a whole to address security concerns. “Nigeria’s reliance on Western alliances cannot be the only focus. We must expand our horizons. China has been a critical partner for Nigeria, and we require all the cooperation we can garner to effectively respond to various security challenges within our country and the region,” said Omeje.
China has consistently invested heavily in African infrastructure, particularly in Nigeria, over the years, with Nigeria being a top supplier of crude oil to China. However, the naval visit has fuelled conjecture that Beijing may have designs on establishing a naval base within the Gulf of Guinea.
American defence officials voiced concerns last year that such a base could potentially pose a threat to US national security. Kabiru Adamu, an analyst with Beacon security risk management firm, concurred that the visit may harbour undisclosed intentions.
“In diplomacy, there’s typically the stated goal and then the covert objective. During the five-day visit, security will be a focal point of discussions. China aspires to establish a diplomatic base in West Africa, and this could be an effort to secure Nigeria’s support for that ambition,” said Adamu.
In 2016, China pledged economic backing for Sao Tome, a small African nation in the Atlantic, soon after it severed ties with Taiwan. Sao Tome’s strategic location in the Gulf of Guinea makes it a potential focal point for oil and gas production.
Adamu maintains that China is seeking to secure its African assets with a potential base. “Beijing has a clear interest in extending its African influence to safeguard its investments. It has made substantial investments in African nations before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Naturally, it will want to protect those investments, and bolstering security ties with African countries is one way to achieve that,” Adamu explained.
Earlier this year, Nigeria inaugurated the Lekki Deep Sea Port in Lagos, a project built by the state-owned China Harbour Engineering Company. Last month, this port welcomed a 300-metre-long vessel from China, the largest since the port’s inception. On Sunday, three Chinese naval ships made a five-day port call to the waters off Lagos, marking a significant diplomatic event.
Image Credit: Nigerian Ports Authority
