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● The China Index is the first project to measure and visualize the PRC’s global influence. The
2024 edition covers 101 countries, including Nigeria, offering a nuanced view for academics,
policymakers, journalists, and civil society.
● Nigeria is the highest-ranked African country in the China Index 2024, placing 4th overall. This
reflects its deep economic ties with the PRC — its top trading partner, and the holder of the
majority of Nigeria’s bilateral sovereign debt.
● Nigeria ranks 3rd in the Technology Domain, demonstrating a strategic, long-term partnership in
telecommunications, surveillance, and digital infrastructure.
● Nigeria ranks 3rd in a Rule-Making cluster comprising Military, Law Enforcement, and Foreign
Policy — suggesting a successful effort by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to leverage close
economic ties to shape global norms, security cooperation, and diplomatic engagement.
Amid ongoing debate on the benefits and potential drawbacks of Nigeria’s engagement with the PRC, new
research reveals that the PRC has continued to expand its influence in Nigeria since 2022.
According to Alda Elisa, head of communication for Doublethink Lab, Nigeria ranks 4th out of 101 countries overall and is the highest-ranked country in Africa in the China
Index 2024, the first research effort to measure and compare PRC influence overseas. The Index is
published by the China in the World (CITW) network, an initiative of the Taiwan-based civil society
organization Doublethink Lab, and draws on research by hundreds of researchers and local experts
worldwide.
Rankings are determined by summing normalized responses to 99 Indicators, each corresponding to an
observable phenomenon of PRC influence. These Indicators are devised by the Index Committee of
experts in PRC influence tactics, and split equally across nine Domains (Media, Academia, Economy,
Society, Military, Technology, Law Enforcement, Domestic Politics, and Foreign Policy).
Nigeria’s upward movement in the latest China Index reflects growing PRC influence across key sectors
of Nigerian society. As Africa’s most populous country and one of the world’s largest democracies,
Nigeria has emerged as a strategic partner in Beijing’s global influence efforts, particularly in the domains
of Foreign Policy, Technology, Law Enforcement, and Economy.
The country’s rapid digital development, supported by PRC-backed infrastructure projects, and
technology transfer, and training, has also introduced Chinese surveillance systems and cybersecurity
norms into Nigeria’s governance framework. Chinese firms such as Huawei have implemented “Safe
City” surveillance systems in major cities like Lagos and Abuja. Nigerian officials have also participated
in cybersecurity training programs sponsored by Chinese institutions.
These tools, while potentially enhancing public security, also bring new challenges related to data
privacy, transparency, and public oversight. The alignment with PRC-style governance models,
characterized by centralized digital control, may raise concerns about the long-term implications for civil
liberties and institutional accountability.
Ranked 5th globally and highest among African countries, Nigeria’s high position in the Economic
Domain underscores its close financial ties with the PRC. As Nigeria’s top trading partner and the holder
of most of its bilateral sovereign debt, the PRC appears to wield significant economic leverage,
influencing Nigeria’s policy decisions and position in multilateral forums. This also contributes to
Nigeria’s top ranking in the Foreign Policy Domain.
Foreign Policy, Military, and Law Enforcement are a part of a Rule-Making cluster, where Nigeria ranks
3rd out of 101 countries and highest among all African countries. The cluster reflects how PRC influence
shapes national standards, governance models, and security norms.
A point of concern is PRC’s influence on government norms in Nigeria. For example, one Law
Enforcement Indicator reads: “In my country, law enforcement and judicial-related training offered by
PRC-connected individuals or entities have been accepted by national or subnational governments” to
which the graded response is “Yes”, and the following supporting evidence state:
“The Chinese Embassy in Nigeria held a two-day Chinese training course for 40 Nigerian police officials
in 2019. In 2023, the PRC Ministry of Public Security also held a two-week seminar on Combating
Cybercrime which was attended by Nigerian police officers.
Therefore, this Indicator deserves a “More than a Few” rating. There is the centralized training course for Nigerian police officers and law enforcement officials in China. The participants are 15 police law enforcement officers from the Nigerian Police Headquarters and various branches. Therefore, this Indicator deserves an “Significant” rating.”
All evidence is provided by regional partners of the China Index, in this case the non-profit
Code for Africa, and is subsequently reviewed by local experts.
China Index 2024 raw data is available for download here, allowing interested stakeholders to conduct
complementary research. The full China Index research report will be available to download soon.
For further information about the China Index and CITW, including in-depth research takeaways and
interviews email alda@doublethinklab.org.
About the China Index
In 2019, Doublethink Lab and its partners established the China In The World (CITW) network to bring
together stakeholders researching the People’s Republic of China (PRC)’s global influence and
disinformation strategies. CITW aims to support and unite these stakeholders, improve global and
regional awareness of related challenges, and strengthen democratic resilience worldwide. CITW oversees
publication of the China Index, the first cross-regional initiative to measure and compare the PRC’s
influence in various countries.
About Doublethink Lab
Doublethink Lab (Doublethink) is a civil society organization devoted to studying the malign influence of
digital authoritarianism. Doublethink’s strengths lie in the ability to combine a diverse set of research
approaches in the social, behavioral, and computational sciences to study state-funded propaganda
campaigns, psychological warfare, and related information operations. Doublethink seeks to foster global
networks connecting academics, democracy movements, digital communities, like-minded CSOs, and
experts on the People’s Republic of China, in order to strengthen global democratic resilience.
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