In brief
In Abuja, Chinese Ambassador Yu Dunhai and Nigerian Minister Abubakar Bagudu unveiled a $30 million grant from China, following an earlier 200 million‑yuan aid package. The funds aim to finance small‑scale projects that directly improve livelihoods, with Nigeria highlighting its thousands of grassroots interventions. Both sides cited the agreement as evidence of deepening bilateral ties and a shared commitment to poverty reduction.
In Abuja on October 30th, officials gathered at the Nigerian Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning to sign a $30‑million grant agreement from China aimed at boosting small‑scale development projects across the country. Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria Yu Dunhai announced the deal, noting that it comes after China’s earlier grant of 200 million yuan (about $29.8 million) to support Nigeria’s economic and social development.
Yu said the new grant would support what he called "small but beautiful" projects that require limited investment yet deliver quick results and improve people’s livelihoods.
"The grant would support small but beautiful projects requiring limited investment, delivering quick results and improving people’s livelihoods,"he told the ceremony, expressing confidence that the Nigerian government would use the funds effectively.
Nigerian Minister Abubakar Bagudu, who rolled out the agreement, thanked China for the support, describing the deal as "evidence of strong bilateral relations and shared development objectives" between the two countries. He also highlighted Nigeria’s effort to tackle poverty at the grassroots level, pointing out that more than 8,809 interventions have been recorded under the lowest level of its economic support program.
Bagudu said that Nigerians could learn from China’s poverty‑alleviation strategy to accelerate national development. The agreement follows China’s broader partnership with Nigeria, which seeks to share China’s experience in poverty reduction and grassroots development.
Guardian News reported that the $30 million grant was part of a broader development cooperation agreement, also noting that the funding would help finance local projects in Nigeria. The Guardian’s account confirms the figures and the intent to fund small projects, echoing the statements made by the ambassador and the minister.
The grant represents a continued commitment from China to support Nigeria’s development goals, reinforcing the partnership that has already yielded prior aid grants and collaborative initiatives.