Title: Chinese economic diplomacy, public-private partnerships and Nigerian Lekki Deep Seaport

Authors: Olukayode A. Faleye; Ozekhome G. Igechi

Addresses: Department of History and International Studies, Edo State University, Uzairue, Edo State, Nigeria ' Department of Political Science and Public Administration, Edo State University, Uzairue, Edo State, Nigeria

Abstract: This paper examines the emerging trends in Chinese economic diplomacy characterised by the transition from state loans to Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in Africa. It discusses how the Nigerian Lekki Deep Seaport symbolises a new wave of Sino-African PPP. The existing literature on Chinese economic diplomacy is built on the dichotomised views of the debt trap and aids narratives. Studies have criticised the Sino-African PPPs as an illusion designed by China to sustain African underdevelopment. We nevertheless present a counter-narrative in this study and argue that African agencies can strategically improve their negotiating capacities to create favourable conditions for growth. Based on the analyses of diverse official sources and the extant literature, this paper concludes that this peculiar example of Sino-African PPPs ensures the convergence of national interest and global justice.

Keywords: AfCFTA; BRI; global justice; Lekki Deep-Seaport; regional economy; Sino-African PPPs; transportation infrastructure.

DOI: 10.1504/IJDIPE.2026.150250

International Journal of Diplomacy and Economy, 2026 Vol.12 No.1, pp.57 - 78

Received: 10 Feb 2024
Accepted: 27 May 2024
Published online: 05 Dec 2025 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article