ABSTRACT
Compared to other states in West Africa, Nigeria's democracy and economic growth perform relatively better. China-Nigeria relations are a featured case in assessing China's engagement in Africa because Nigeria is the rare African state with large energy reserves and a relatively democratic government system. This chapter starts with a brief background on China-Nigeria relations. It discusses three influential factors, such as, China's national interests, Nigeria's demands, and international expectations, to explore whether these two countries can be complementary at the policy level. The chapter then describes which factors could limit China's commitment to Nigeria, and also China's capability to be responsible in Nigeria. It discusses the actors and context that can affect China's role in Nigeria, from both the Nigerian and Chinese sides. The African Union (AU) has also endorsed Nigeria as the only candidate from the continent in the coming election for the UN non-permanent seat to pursue the interests of the continent and maintain international peace and security.
