Thesis Abstract

Thesis Overview

<p> </p><p>INTRODUCTION<br>1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY<br>Given the political complexities and the emergence of china as a great economic world power, it becomes important for us as students of international relations to study the strategic relationship between a “democratic” Nigeria and “undemocratic” China. This position emerges out of what the year 1971 symbolized as a divide between two historical phases for both Nigeria and China. For Nigeria, 1971 marked the close of the first ten years (1960-1970) of its existence as an independent state, And by any account, that was a remarkable decade for Nigeria. As a matter of fact, the course and impact of events in those ten years would have been remarkable for any country in historical terms. For China, on the other hand, the year 1971 signified a historical benchmark because for the first time since 1949, it achieved international recognition by attaining full membership of the united nations (UN) in complete replacement of Taiwan which had occupied that seat as the official Republic of China (ROC).Thus both Nigeria and China enjoyed a moment of diplomatic triumph from their respective point of view. However, following China‟s economic growth in the 1980‟s, Nigerian leaders began to look forward to a more serious economic engagement with China (Bukaremba, 2005). Nigeria‟s first contact with China took place in 1960 when a Chinese delegation, on the invitation of the Nigerian government, attended Nigeria‟s independence celebrations. The delegation brought a message from Chinese leaders congratulating Nigeria on the victory won by the Nigerian people in their struggle against colonialism. In February, 1971, Nigeria finally established diplomatic ties with China more than a decade after independence. Both countries opened embassies in each other‟s capital within the year. The Chinese government has described this relationship as a “win-win” situation” (Agubamah,<br>2014). The period between 1971 and early 1999 witnessed minimal diplomatic exchanges, low bi-lateral trade relations, a near absence of Chinese Foreign Direct Investments inflow to Nigeria.<br>With the inauguration of the former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999, Nigeria-China relations began to deepen. The First Ministerial conference of the forum on China-Africa cooperation was held in Beijing, China in 2000. The conference is believed to have laid the foundation and set the pace for a new order that has witnessed a significant shift in Nigeria‟s and Africa‟s foreign diplomatic and economic relations. Obasanjo did not attend but senior Nigerian representatives did and in the same year the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation(CCECC) was awarded a tender to build 5000 housing units for athletes participating in the eight All African Games in Abuja, which were built. Also both countries signed an agreement on the establishment of a Nigeria Trade Office in China and a China Investment Development and Trade Promotion center in Nigeria in 2001. In 2004, the volume of trade grew by 17.6 percent, with Nigeria‟s exports to China registering a growth of 330 percent. China‟s main exports to Nigeria are light industrial, mechanical and electrical products ( Akongbowa, 2008). Soon after the Beijing conference, Sino-Nigeria relations assumed a new dimension characterized by rapid and aggressive economic, cultural, scientific, and educational cooperation, increasing Chinese Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), aids/ grants, technical assistance as well as several sponsored training programs for Nigerian officials. China has now emerged as Nigeria‟s and Africa‟s major development and trade partner, having taken the place of Europe and North America in Nigeria‟s development agenda.</p><p><strong>1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM</strong><br>The foundation of Nigeria-China relations dates back to the early 1970‟s.Both countries established formal diplomatic ties in February 1971. Ever since then, scholars of foreign policies have produced research works on the bilateral relationship that exists between Nigeria and China.<br>However, in as much as the relationship seems irresistible, the basic problem of sincerity of intentions still plays a limiting factor. Thus it becomes important to look at how both sides have benefitted from their relationship.<br>Analysis shows that hegemonic stance of china in international politics has allowed it benefit more from relating with struggling African countries who usually because of their internal politics stay at the bottom. Thus, given the internal dynamics of Nigeria‟s politics that features corruption as its shortcoming and has overtime formed a cliché in the Nigerian political milieu, the possibilities of achieving a win-win situation has really been hampered.<br>Flowing from the foregoing it becomes necessary to study the root and patterns of this relationship which necessitated the reasons for the research. However it is therefore observed that the problems faced by Nigeria from its economic relations with China are as follows: The influx of allegedly sub-standard goods from China. This issue was taken up officially by the standards Organization of Nigeria.<br>The other issue is China‟s steady trade surplus against Nigeria ever since recorded trade between them began in the mid- 1950‟s. On the other hand China also has points of complaint over doing business in Nigeria .One, the problem of insecurity arising from armed robbery and pronounced social proclivity towards violence and lawlessness. The high cost of operations due to inadequate power and water supply; the bad state of telecommunications and infrastructure (i.e. roads and railway); poor police work as when reported crime investigations do not yield any results and corruption.<br><strong>1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY</strong><br>The research will attempt to:<br>1. Examine the roles played by both countries in strengthening bilateral relations<br>2. Evaluate the performance of both countries in economic bilateral relations.<br>3. Highlight challenges confronting Nigeria-China bilateral Relations.<br>4. Propose ways to achieve sustainable socio-economic development and self-reliance through regional economic integration.<br><strong>1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS</strong><br>The research will further attempt to give answer to some questions like:<br>1. What are the roles and efforts of Nigeria and China in strengthening economic bilateral relations?<br>2. How much has Nigeria and China performed in its economic and bilateral relations attempt?<br>3. What are the challenges confronting Nigeria and China in its relationship attempt?<br><strong>1.5 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS</strong><br>1 H: The relationship between Nigeria and China has definitely affected both nation‟s foreign policies.<br>H: The relationship between Nigeria and China has not affected both nation‟s foreign policies.<br>2 H: Nigeria‟s economy has benefitted from her relations with China.<br>H: .Nigeria‟s economy has not benefitted from her relations with China<br>3 H: NIGERIA-CHINA is not confronting any challenge in its relationship attempt.<br>H: NIGERIA-CHINA is confronting challenges in its relationship attempt.<br><strong>1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY</strong></p> <br><p></p>