Nigerian Lawyers Urged to Collaborate with Chinese Colleagues to Address Legal Challenges

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

Legal practitioners in the country have been advised to collaborate with their Chinese counterparts to address emerging legal challenges in investment frameworks and dispute resolution.

This call was made by a Nigerian judiciary journalist John Azu during the presentation of his book, “Contemporary Legal Cooperation: China and Africa – A Comparative Survey of Legal Systems” in Abuja.

Azu while highlighting the absence of Nigerian representation at key legal conferences organised by the Chinese government, which have previously included participants from South Africa, Tanzania, Ghana, and Kenya, said: “I was privileged to interact with Chinese lawyers and participate in conferences aimed at fostering cooperation with African lawyers.

“At one such event, I noticed no Nigerian lawyers were present. Organisers expressed hope to include Nigeria in future programmes.”

He explained that these programmes, address critical legal issues such as copyright infringement, labor rights, land disputes, and contractual agreements, which are highly relevant to Nigeria.

Azu stressed the importance of learning from China’s legal system, especially given the substantial investments the country has made across Africa.

“China has invested billions of dollars in Africa, but these investments require comprehensive legal frameworks to prevent prolonged disputes,” he said, citing past cases of Nigeria facing asset seizures due to unresolved breaches in investment agreements.

He further emphasised that understanding China’s legal philosophy and fostering collaboration could help Nigeria protect its interests.

“This collaboration provides insights into legal systems that underpin large-scale investments, ensuring mutual benefits for both parties,” Azu stated.

He said with Nigeria as Africa’s largest economy,  it is vital for the country’s legal professionals to seize such opportunities to shape the future of cross-border investments and legal cooperation.

In his remarks, the Ambassador of the Peoples Republic of China to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, represented by the Vice-Director of the China Cultural Centre, Liu Zhanping, stressed the importance of law in safeguarding citizens’ fundamental rights.

Zhanping highlighted that legal systems play a crucial role in ensuring the protection of individuals within any society. “Law is essential to protect every citizen of a country and their fundamental rights,” he stated.

Azu’s book serves as a resource for legal practitioners, policymakers, and academics, offering strategies to strengthen legal ties between Nigeria and China.