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Paper short abstract:

This study compares the presence of Western capitalists and the Chinese in Africa’s extractive industry with special focus on the solid minerals using Nigeria as a case study. It draws comparison between the raison detre and impact of Western and Chinese presence in Nigeria’s solid minerals industry

Paper long abstract:

The European scramble for Africa`s minerals continued even after colonialism. However, what appears to be new in the current situation is the emergence of non-Western players in the struggle for the control of Africa’s resources by some other countries, led by China. At the beginning of the twenty-first century, Africa witnessed unprecedented rise in foreign direct investments in the mining sector from both Western and non-Western actors. Nigeria is a beneficiary of this FDI in Africa. China’s growing demand for mineral commodities combined with Europe’s eagerness to maintain its traditional sphere of influence in Africa have led to an international race for Africa’s minerals. This paper appraises the investments of both the West and China in the Nigeria’s solid minerals industry. It draws comparison between the raison detre and impact of their presence in Nigeria’s solid minerals industry. Nigeria, rich in over 34 solid minerals had depended on crude oil, which was managed by European extractive capitalism since the second decade of independence. However, the need to diversify the revenue base of the Nigerian economy by diversifying towards the solid minerals sector gave China the impetus to cash in on this necessity in the Nigerian extractive industry. The paper underscores the variegated features of both the Chinese and Western extractive capitalism in Nigeria. Using Nigeria's case, it is possible to draw comparisons between Chinese relations with Africa and Africa’s past relationship with European colonial powers, which exploited the continent’s natural resources but failed to encourage more labor-intensive industry.