Since 2000, Chinese–Nigerian trade relations have risen exponentially. There has been an increase in total trade of over 10.3 billion dollars between the two nations from 2000 to 2016.LeVan, Carl; Ukata, Patrick (2018). The Oxford Handbook of Nigerian Politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 751. . However, the structure of the Chinese–Nigerian trade relationship has become a major political issue for the Nigerian state. Chinese exports account for around 80 per cent of total bilateral trade volumes.LeVan, Carl; Ukata, Patrick (2018). The Oxford Handbook of Nigerian Politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 756. . This has resulted in a serious trade imbalance, with Nigeria importing ten times more than it exports to China.LeVan, Carl; Ukata, Patrick (2018). The Oxford Handbook of Nigerian Politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 754. . Subsequently, Nigeria's economy is becoming over-reliant on cheap imports to sustain itself, resulting in a clear decline in Nigerian industry under such arrangements.LeVan, Carl; Ukata, Patrick (2018). The Oxford Handbook of Nigerian Politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 754–755. .
sInce 2000 CHInese–NigeRian tRaDe relatiOnS havE riSeN eXPoneNtially TheRe hAs bEen aN increASE In totaL TRaDe of oveR 103 BIllIon Dollars bETwEeN The TWo nAtioNs fRom 2000 to 2016levAn carl; ukAta patrick (2018) the OXfoRd handBook of NigeRIan polItics oxford OXFOrd uniVERsity press p 751  HOwevEr tHe stRucturE of thE chinesE–nigerian TRade relaTIonsHIp HAS BEComE A maJor POlitiCAL isSUe FOR THe NigErIan state CHINEse exPORts acCOUNT For around 80 PEr cent oF TOtAL bILateraL tRaDE VoluMeSLEvan caRl; ukAta patrick (2018) ThE oxfoRd handbooK of nigeriAN PoLitIcs oxFord oxfOrd UNivErsiTy PresS p 756  thIs has Resulted in a serioUs tRaDE imbAlaNCe with NigeRia iMpoRtiNg ten tiMes moRe Than it exports tO CHinalevan carl; ukatA pAtRick (2018) thE OxfOrd hANdbooK oF niGeriaN POLITiCs oXfoRd Oxford univerSitY presS p 754  SubseqUEnTLY nIgEria'S eCOnOmY iS BeCoMing OVeR-ReLiant on Cheap imPORtS To sUsTaIn iTSelf ResUlting iN a clear DecliNe iN NIgerian inDUStRy UNDer such ArRanGemENtslevan carl; uKata paTRIcK (2018) the OXfOrd handBoOk of NiGEriaN pOliTiCs Oxford oXFOrd universIty press p 754–755 