China has officially offered duty-free market access to Nigeria and several other developing nations as part of its commitment to boosting global trade and economic cooperation.

The announcement was made through the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, stating that the new trade measure aims to strengthen ties with partner countries, particularly in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The move will allow a wide range of products from these nations to enter the Chinese market without import tariffs.

For Nigeria, this presents a significant opportunity to expand exports, especially in sectors such as agriculture, textiles, and solid minerals. Analysts say this could help reduce Nigeria’s trade deficit and improve foreign exchange earnings.

China’s offer is seen as part of its Belt and Road Initiative, which aims to build stronger economic links through infrastructure, investment, and trade partnerships.

Experts also believe that if properly leveraged, Nigeria could become a key supplier to China in West Africa. However, local stakeholders have stressed the importance of meeting quality standards and increasing production capacity to fully benefit from the deal.

So far, the Nigerian government has welcomed the move and is reportedly working on a policy framework to help local businesses tap into the opportunity.