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Sorry, Mr. Minister, China Isn’t Going to Finance Your Railway

by Eric Olander
Nigeria's Transportation Minister Mua’zu Sambo briefs the Press on the release of the remaining 23 victims of the March 28, 2022 Abuja - Kaduna Train Attack. Image via @MuazuJajiSambo

Nigeria’s Transportation Minister Mu’azu Sambo made a remarkable statement during a press conference on Friday. He is apparently still waiting for the China Exim Bank to come through with funding to build a pair of very expensive, multi-billion dollar railways.

Years ago, the Nigerian government and the bank agreed that China would finance 85% of the Abuja-Kano railway along with the Port-Harcourt to Maiduguri line. Since then, the Chinese haven’t explicitly backed out of the deal, but they’re basically ghosting the Nigerian government on the issue, refusing even to return their calls.

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