Chinese Government, yesterday, sounded a note of warning to its nationals in Nigeria against engaging in illegal business activities, particularly mining, or face consequences

The government also urged its nationals to comply with Nigerian laws and regulations and shun illicit activities.

The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, gave the warning in Abeokuta, the Ogun State Capital, shortly after he led a delegation of Chinese Embassy officials in Nigeria on a courtesy call to the State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, at his office at Oke-Mosan.

Abiodun had earlier raised concerns over the activities of Chinese nationals, who were fond of conniving with locals to carry out illegal mining in the state.

However, Dunhai, while cautioning his country nationals against illegal mining in the country, said the Chinese Government would deal decisively with any of its citizens found wanting over illegal mining activities in Nigeria.

THIS is as Nigerian scholars and policymakers called for deeper academic and cultural exchanges with China, urging a shift away from Western-dominated narratives to a knowledge-based partnership that serves Africa’s development interests.

They made the call at a lecture on ‘Advancing Knowledge Exchange, themed Bridging Africa-China Dialogue Through Scholarly Exchange’ organised by the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), in collaboration with Contemporary World Magazine, Nigeria Edition, held in Lagos.

Director of Studies, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Prof. Efem Ubi a leading scholar on Africa-China studies, emphasised that China had become central to Africa’s development discourse.