Chinese company accused of trying to seize Nigeria’s government assets

Nigerian government has accused a Chinese company of trying to seize its assets overseas, including presidential jets, a government spokesperson said on Thursday.

Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga said Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Ltd. is using “unorthodox means” to target Nigerian government property, despite having no contractual obligations with the federal government.

The dispute stems from a 2007 contract between Zhongshan and Ogun state in southwestern Nigeria to develop a free trade zone, which was terminated in 2015.

“Zhongshan has no solid ground to demand restitution from the Ogun State Government based on the facts regarding the 2007 contract between the company and the State Government to manage a free-trade zone,” Onanuga said in a statement on Thursday.