Nigeria, China to jointly tackle Chinese financial crimes and fake news

Nigeria and China have announced a joint effort to combat the rising involvement of Chinese nationals in financial crimes across Nigeria and also fighting fake news.
This follows a recent visit by Chinese Ambassador Yu Dunhai to Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Ministry of Information and National Orientation in Abuja. In a statement, Ambassador Dunhai expressed regret over the situation, pledging China’s support to work alongside Nigerian law enforcement. He assured that Chinese delegates would collaborate with the EFCC to address issues such as cybercrime, telecom fraud, and illegal mining, all of which have led to the arrest of over 400 Chinese nationals since November.
However, concerns have emerged about the potential influence of China over the process. Critics, including Nigerian political analysts, worry that China’s close ties with Nigeria — especially due to trade relations and significant debt exceeding $5 billion — could undermine the rule of law, potentially leading to politically motivated releases. While Nigeria seeks China’s support in international affairs, including securing a spot in the G20, analysts urge that these criminal cases should remain unaffected by political or economic pressures, stressing the importance of transparency and upholding Nigeria’s sovereignty in legal matters.
Nigeria has also announced its commitment to work with China in tackling the growing issue of fake news and misinformation. During a meeting with Ambassador Dunhai, Nigerian minister of information Alhaji Mohammed Idris emphasized the dangers of false information and stressed the importance of promoting accurate, reliable content. The Chinese ambassador said he looked forward to the implementation of the Memoranda of Understanding signed between the China Media Group and Nigeria’s two foremost public broadcasters – the NTA and FRCN, because the media plays an important role in shaping views in the society.