The emergence of China on the global stage as a political and economic powerhouse has significant implications for different global actors, not least for all African countries. In the last thirty years, China has shorn off the toga of a backward agrarian nation to become a significant trading and investment player on the world stage. In the same period, Sino-Africa relations have become possible pathways for economic development for Africa. The term "Sino-Africa relations" is only a poor shorthand for describing a complex and dynamic relationship between China and fifty-four sovereign African countries. This paper seeks to examine the trade and investment relationship between China and Africa, focusing on Sino-Nigeria relations using descriptive analysis, and understand how Nigeria has benefitted, if at all, from this relationship. The paper concludes with a critique of Sino-AfricanNigeria relations and concludes that both parties need the relationship; however, Africa must adopt strategic focus and discipline to derive sustained benefits.
Keywords: Sino-Africa, Sino-Nigeria, China, Loans, Trade, Economic, Development, oil for infrastructure, Globalization