Nigeria, China Mark 55 Years of Diplomatic Relations at 2026 Chinese New Year Temple Fair

By: Michael Mike

Nigeria and China have reaffirmed their longstanding diplomatic and strategic partnership as both countries marked the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations during the 2026 “Happy Chinese New Year” Temple Fair in Abuja.

The celebration, held at the Chinese Cultural Centre at the weekend, brought together senior government officials, diplomats, business leaders, cultural organisations and members of the Chinese and Nigerian communities. The event also coincided with the celebration of the Chinese Lunar New Year, the Year of the Horse, symbolising strength, resilience and progress.

China’s Chargé d’Affaires in Nigeria, Zhou Hongyou, said the Spring Festival had grown beyond a traditional celebration to become a global cultural event promoting peace, harmony and mutual understanding among nations. He noted that the festival’s inclusion on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list had further strengthened its global significance.

Zhou described the temple fair as a practical expression of China’s commitment to cultural dialogue and people-to-people engagement, adding that cultural exchanges remain a key pillar of China–Nigeria relations. He highlighted the steady growth of bilateral cooperation in areas such as trade, infrastructure, education, science, tourism and cultural exchange.

Reflecting on the history of bilateral ties, Zhou recalled that Nigeria and China established diplomatic relations in 1971 and have since developed a partnership founded on mutual respect, equality and shared development. He noted that the relationship was elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2024, opening a new chapter of deeper cooperation between both countries.

Also speaking, the Director-General and Global Liaison of the Nigeria–China Strategic Partnership (NCSP), Joseph Tegbe, reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the One-China Principle, describing it as central to the strong and enduring relationship between the two nations.

Tegbe said Nigeria’s partnership with China has delivered tangible benefits, particularly in infrastructure development, industrial growth and human capacity building. He acknowledged China’s contributions to key projects such as rail infrastructure and port development, which he said continue to support Nigeria’s economic transformation.

He disclosed that Nigeria is advancing new cooperative initiatives in agriculture, steel production and education, including a large-scale poultry programme designed to boost food security, create jobs and support local farmers. He also expressed optimism about renewed efforts to revitalise the Ajaokuta Steel Complex in collaboration with Chinese partners.

According to Tegbe, both countries are committed to strengthening educational and knowledge exchanges through scholarships, joint research and the development of industrial parks that will promote technology transfer and skills development.

The speakers noted that 2026 has been designated the China–Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, providing an opportunity to deepen cultural understanding and expand cooperation beyond government-to-government engagement.

The event featured martial arts displays by the Chinese Wushu Association, cultural performances by Nigerian and Chinese artistes, exhibitions on Chinese culture and tourism, and interactive activities aimed at promoting friendship between the two peoples.

Nigeria, China Mark 55 Years of Diplomatic Relations at 2026 Chinese New Year Temple Fair

Russia Declares End of Nuclear Weapons Reduction Deal With US

By: Michael Mike

The Russian Federation has formally marked the expiration of the Russia–United States New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), stating that both countries are no longer bound by its obligations following the agreement’s termination on February 5, 2026.

In a statement issued by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Moscow recalled that the treaty—signed in 2010, enforced in 2011, and extended once in 2021—had played a significant role in curbing the strategic arms race and ensuring predictability in nuclear relations between the two powers.

Russia noted that it suspended its participation in New START in February 2023, citing what it described as persistent violations and hostile actions by the United States that undermined the treaty’s core principles.

According to the statement, Washington’s military policies, particularly in the area of missile defense, disrupted the strategic balance envisioned by the agreement and constituted a material breach that made full implementation impossible.

Despite these concerns, Moscow acknowledged that the treaty had largely fulfilled its purpose over the years by enabling substantial reductions in strategic offensive arms and reinforcing strategic stability.

Russian said even after suspending its participation, it voluntarily continued to observe the treaty’s central numerical limits until its expiration, a move the United States also pledged to follow.

The statement further disclosed that in September 2025, President Vladimir Putin proposed extending voluntary limits on strategic weapons for at least one year beyond the treaty’s end. However, Russian authorities said the initiative received no formal response from Washington, which they described as regrettable and short-sighted.

With the treaty now expired, Russia stated that no binding commitments or reciprocal declarations remain in force.

Moscow emphasized that it would shape its future strategic arms policy based on an assessment of U.S. military posture and broader global security developments.

While warning that it is prepared to take military-technical measures to protect national security if new threats emerge, Russia reiterated its readiness to pursue diplomatic engagement aimed at stabilizing the strategic environment—provided conditions for equal and mutually beneficial dialogue are established.

Russia Declares End of Nuclear Weapons Reduction Deal With US

UK, Nigeria Deepen Digital Cooperation Through Benchmarking and Knowledge Exchange

By: Michael Mike

The United Kingdom and Nigeria have advanced their strategic partnership through a high-level international benchmarking and knowledge exchange tour focused on end-to-end clearance of IT projects and procurement of public digital products and services.

Hosted by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), through its Digital Access Programme, in collaboration with leading UK digital governance institutions, including Government Digital Service (GDS), Public Digital, Crown Commercial Service (CCS), British Standards Institute, and the FCDO Cyber Policy Department, the programme brought together senior officials from Nigeria’s National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Galaxy Backbone Limited (GBB), Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), for a week-long engagement in London from 23 to 28 November 2025.

The programme built on the UK–Nigeria Strategic Partnership’s pillars of economic development, governance reform, and technology cooperation, ensuring that both countries leverage digital innovation to drive inclusive growth and secured public services.

A statement on Wednesday by FCDA said for Nigeria, this engagement will inform the enhancement of NITDA’s IT Project Clearance, improve procurement efficiency, and embed global best practices in cybersecurity, digital and data governance of public digital services. This engagement reinforces the UK’s role as a trusted partner for Nigeria’s inclusive digital transformation journey as well as open access to the UK technology supply chain for the Nigerian market.

While delivering the opening remarks, Kashifu Inuwa Abduallahi, NITDA Director General represented by Dr Usman Gambo Abdulahi, the Director IT project Clearance Unit said: “At the heart of Nigeria’s reforms is our determination to improve government service delivery, reduce waste, strengthen cybersecurity, and build trust in public digital systems. Modernising the IT Projects Clearance process therefore is a key enabler to achieving this vision. I commend the UK’s FCDO through the Digital Access Programme for its consistent support to Nigeria’s digital transformation journey. I thank UK Government and its various departments for agreeing to share insights and expertise that will certainly strengthen our institutions and our nation’s governance capacity”.

The FCDO’s Director for International Science and Technology, Ros Eales, said:

“Nigeria is a key partner of the UK in the tech sector. Working with partner countries like Nigeria is to ensure that digital transformation works for all and is safe, secure, and sustainable. This becomes even more important in an era of rapid technological evolution, accelerated by AI, with all its benefits to reap and risks to manage.”

the British deputy high commissioner in Lagos, Jonny Baxter, said: “The UK is proud to stand as a key partner to Nigeria, leveraging our expertise to drive knowledge exchange in digital governance and institutional reform. This technical collaboration underscores our longstanding commitment to Nigeria’s digital transformation and to building strategic partnerships that deliver shared economic growth for both nations.”

Head of Digital Development in FCDO London, and global lead of the UK Digital Access programme (DAP), Alessandra Lustrati, presented the Digital Development Strategy 2024-2030 to the Nigerian delegation and highlighted the importance of supporting best practices in the digital transformation of government, to ensure digital services are accessible, open, and citizen-driven, within a safe and secure digital environment

UK, Nigeria Deepen Digital Cooperation Through Benchmarking and Knowledge Exchange