As the upcoming Forum on China–Africa Cooperation Summit takes place between September 4 and 6, 2024, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu will be prepared for what could be his most important meeting yet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The summit could not have come at a more critical time with Tinubu representing the Economic Community of West African States as its chair. Nigeria is currently embroiled in a large and controversial asset seizure dispute with a Chinese firm, which severely compromises Nigeria's reputation in the international community for economic sovereignty.
Background: A Dispute that Grinds On and Foments Consequences
The current standoff between Nigeria and the Chinese company Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. DATES traces back a couple of years; it is linchpinned in a knotty court tussle which is now taken the form of a major international dispute. What had started as an arbitration case between the government of Nigeria's Ogun State and the Chinese company, over alleged breeches of contract and investment agreements, had evolved into a bigger international dispute. Really, the facts underpinning the initial standoff are complex: claims of debts not paid and contracting obligations not fulfilled, but what is clear is that the dispute got so far beyond what was originally envisioned.
Over time, the courts have been one avenue being explored for redress by Zhongshan Fucheng, and that has led to the periodic asset seizure that has cast Nigeria in an uncomfortable spotlight on the global stage. These assets include high-profile properties in Liverpool, UK, and luxury aircraft at such different international locations as the Dassault Falcon 7X in Paris, a Boeing 737, and an Airbus A330. The most recent and perhaps most significant seizure involved a Bombardier 6000 at a location in Canada. 'These seizures are not merely symbolic losses, but actual, palpable effects, on Nigeria's ability to operate internationally, more so three of the assets are Nigerian presidential jets currently in France.'
Things came to a dramatic turn when a French court gave its decision in favor of Zhongshan Fucheng and awarded the company the right to seize the presidential jets. This judgment has sent panic waves through Nigeria, as well as the rest of the world, regarding the cost of international administrative, financial, and legal disputes on nations. The warrant is directly related to Nigeria's failure to resolve the initial arbitration decision, and it underlines the need to respect norms in international law.
The Stakes: What the Asset Seizure Means for Nigeria
These asset seizures have much deeper implications for Nigeria, ranging from its global reputation to its economic stability. Indeed, in material terms, the loss of some of the crucial assets-like the Presidential Jets-results in diminished capacity to carry out core functions, such as sending delegations on missions and other functions that are sacrosanct to the running of government. This is not merely a question of national pride—though that is certainly at play—but also one of operational capacity. Losses among these assets may complicate Nigeria's ability to engage effectively on the global stage-particularly in a period when rapid and direct contact with other nations is routine, thanks to air travel.
The seizures also reflect the wider risk to Nigeria's relationships around the world. The dispute between Nigeria and Zhongshan Fucheng is resolved as quickly and amicably as possible. There is every chance that the problem might worsen and thereby affect the relations between Nigeria and other countries, especially those which have substantive economic relationships with China. The case does point out the sobering reality in the need for states to use dialogue and legal means of resolving disputes between them rather than allowing such disputes to deteriorate to a level of seizing assets or other punitive measures over each other.
Rationale for the FOCAC Summit: A Diplomatic and Economic Opportunity
Now, as President Tinubu is prepared to sit down with President Xi Jinping at the FOCAC Summit, the stakes for him have never been higher. The summit will be a golden opportunity for Tinubu to argue its case—he will put in many defenses regarding the precious asset dispute with China and reach an out-of-court settlement that would deliver Nigeria its assets and save it from further defaming its international name.
Established in 2000, FOCAC was a new cornerstone in the relations of Sino-Africa, which was to provide a platform for fostering dialogue, economic cooperation, and strategic partnership. Follow-up summits have been occurring every three years, bringing together heads of state from all over Africa and China to deliberate on a wide range of issues: from trade, investment, and infrastructure development to security cooperation. The Summit is even more critical in the sense for Nigeria especially, not only due to the asset dispute, but also that this is an opportunity for it to further strengthen fronts for economic ties with China, which has grown into one of the most important trading partners of Nigeria.
According to Tinubu's spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, the essence of this visit is for the good of Nigeria and will usher in a new economic trajectory with China. It is expected that such a high-level meeting will result in important bilateral relationships, with an economic advantage that would help navigate Nigeria into more resilient situations than what they are facing now. Speaking on potential investments into infrastructure, technology, and, to some extent, industry, already China has been deeply involved in Nigeria's development.
** Relevance of the Role of ECOWAS: Regional Peace and Security on the Agenda
More generally, Tinubu is also sure to be on the forefront of deliberations concerning regional peace and security, as he currently holds the position of chair of the ECOWAS Authority. The sub-region has been characterized by daunts to peace and security now and again through political instability, terrorism, and hardships in economic growth, just to mention a few. In these regards, the mandate falls upon Tinubu as chairman of ECOWAS to spearhead the region into matters of stability through the formation of partnerships in the stamping out of these vices.
China's role on the continent has evolved from its strictly economic investments to include security cooperation, notably in counterterrorism operations and peacekeeping. The security arena, along with Nigeria and other member states of ECOWAS, might be based on closer collaboration with security cooperation from China. This may include joint efforts to combat terrorism in the Sahel region, support for peacekeeping missions, and initiatives to strengthen the capacity of African nations to address security threats.
Diplomatic Initiatives: The Call to Urgent Action
For many actors, however, this dispute over asset seizure has become a call to urgent diplomatic action. Leading in this regard, the immediate former UN Deputy Permanent Representative, Usman Sarki, has been very vocal in demanding action on the part of the Nigerian government to settle the conflict. A direct engagement, he argues, between Tinubu and Xi Jinping could help settle the dispute and see Nigeria's assets restored. He made a suggestion that at this high level of a meeting, some sort of negotiated settlement would come out that could save face for both sides and take forward the relationship.
Sarki's Call for Action: The call for action from Sarki is similar to a growing sense in Nigeria that the asset seizure is not only a matter of the law but of national dignity and economic sovereignty. This disagreement has obviously presented Tinubu with a test of his usual diplomatic prowess, which he has to be able to protect the overall interest of Nigeria on the global stage.
This FOCAC Summit ahead would certainly be followed not just in Nigeria but also internationally since it has this willingness to set the tone much more for the future of Nigeria's relationship, not just with China but other global major players as well.
Positioning Nigeria for Better Global Economic Engagement
But beyond the issue of the asset seizures, the FOCAC Summit is an opportunity for Nigeria to strengthen its global economic position. Beyond being among Nigeria's largest trading partners, China is a global economic player. In this regard, the move toward closer ties with China could help Nigeria latch onto China's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative-a plan with the potential to transform infrastructure and trade networks across Africa.
"For Nigeria, participation in the BRI could imply billions of U.S. dollars invested in much-needed transportation, energy, and telecommunications infrastructure. In essence, this might reduce the burden of structural constraints—which, for the most part, poor infrastructure and limited integration with international markets, hampers Nigeria from achieving economic development. Generally, identifying oneself with China's big economic strategy provides new opportunities in matters of markets and trade/investment opportunities.
This is the window Nigeria has to firmly assert its leadership in Africa-China relations. As the most populous country in Africa and one of the largest economies, Nigeria wields massive influence in determining the future of China-Africa relations. Tinubu should be proactive at the FOCAC Summit to make sure the interest of Nigeria keeps its representation; therefore, Nigeria would keep benefiting from opportunities presented by China's engagement with Africa.
As President Tinubu gets prepared to meet with President Xi Jinping towards the FOCAC Summit, Nigeria sits at a crossroads. If nothing else, the ongoing dispute over the asset seizure between Nigeria and Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited brings to light the challenges faced by nations in an increasingly interconnected and legally convoluted global community. However, it is something that indicates the relatedness of diplomacy and international cooperation in the settlement of disputes and protection of interests.
FOCAC thus provides Nigeria with an opportunity both to address the immediate challenge of asset seizures and to develop long-term economic and strategic relations with China. Through direct involvement with Xi Jinping, Tinubu would negotiate a way out of an impasse that could return Nigeria's fortunes and avoid further international face-offs. In that respect, active participation by Nigeria in the broader discussions of the summit concerning economic cooperation and regional security could only serve to increase its prestige in Africa-China relations and mark it as a global economy maker.
The results from the dialogue at this summit will be far-reaching for the future, both in the relationship between Nigeria and China and in the standing of Nigeria globally. Global view aside, decisions reached at this all-important moment will certainly go far in defining how much Nigeria, as a country, will be disposed to international engagement for years to come.