Nigeria has emerged as the world’s largest recipient of China’s Belt and Road Initiative construction contracts in 2025, powered by a $24.6 bn gas-based industrial project in the oil-rich Niger Delta.
The surge marks a sharp reordering of Africa-focused BRI capital flows and places Africa’s largest economy at the centre of China’s global infrastructure push this year.
According to a new report by Christoph Nedopil, a China energy expert at Griffith University, Nigeria’s BRI-related construction value jumped from $1.8 bn in 2024 to $24.6 bn in 2025 — a more than 13-fold increase.
The leap is driven almost entirely by the Ogidigben Gas Revolution Industrial Park (GRIP) in Delta State, now the single largest BRI construction project globally this year.
Central to the deal is an estimated $20 bn construction contract awarded to China National Chemical Engineering, underscoring the scale of Beijing’s renewed engagement with Nigeria after several years of subdued activity.
From stalled vision to flagship project
Ogidigben GRIP is designed as an integrated gas-based industrial hub, tapping Nigeria’s vast natural gas reserves to support petrochemicals, fertilisers, power generation, and other gas-intensive industries.
If fully implemented, the project could significantly accelerate Nigeria’s long-stated gas monetisation strategy and deepen domestic industrial capacity.
The renewed momentum marks a turnaround for a project long dogged by delays. Previous attempts were stalled by ethnic tensions, land disputes, financing challenges and investor caution, leaving Ogidigben widely viewed as strategically vital but operationally frozen.
“This is not just an infrastructure project; it is a strategic alignment of Nigeria’s gas potential with China’s global energy ambitions,” said Nedopil.
Globally, the report shows a sharp rebound in BRI activity. Total BRI construction contracts reached $128.4 bn in 2025, up 81 percent from a year earlier, while overall BRI engagement climbed to $213.5 bn across nearly 350 deals. Energy remained the dominant driver, with fossil fuels accounting for most spending, even as green energy reached record levels.
Nigeria’s cumulative energy-related engagement with China now totals about $28 bn since 2013, ranking third globally behind Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
Local analysts say the macroeconomic implications could be substantial. Lagos-based energy consultant Tunde Oyebode said Ogidigben could boost domestic gas processing, attract foreign capital, and create thousands of jobs. “If implemented efficiently, this could accelerate Nigeria’s transition from crude oil dependency to a gas-powered industrial economy,” he said.
For markets, the project carries both promise and risk. Large-scale BRI inflows could support growth, improve long-term export capacity, and strengthen foreign exchange earnings through gas-based manufacturing. In the near term, however, heavy imports during construction and execution risks could limit immediate FX benefits.
Analysts say the scale of the deal reinforces Nigeria’s strategic importance in China’s long-term energy ambitions across Africa and the Global South — with potential knock-on effects for commodities, currencies, and sovereign debt sentiment.
If delivery milestones are met, Nigeria’s Eurobonds could benefit from improved investor confidence, even as markets closely scrutinise funding terms and debt sustainability.
