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PRESS STATEMENT
Lt Gen Ambassador Dambazau, Nigeria’s Ambassador to China Holds Strategic Meeting with Comptroller-General of Customs
As part of his strategic consultations aimed at ensuring a successful diplomatic tenure and protecting the interests of Nigeria and Nigerians, Lt Gen Ambassador Abdulrahman Dambazau, today paid a courtesy visit to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, at the Customs Headquarters, Abuja.
Ambassador Dambazau was received by the Comptroller-General alongside senior Customs officers in an atmosphere reflecting deep respect and recognition of his distinguished service, leadership experience, and remarkable contributions to national development.
During the meeting, Ambassador Dambazau emphasized the importance of building a strong working relationship with the Nigeria Customs Service, noting that Customs remains one of the key institutions his office will collaborate with in advancing trade facilitation, economic diplomacy, investment opportunities, customs cooperation, and other strategic national interests for the benefit of Nigerians.
Speaking during the engagement, he stated:
“I am here to establish strong collaboration towards ensuring an effective working relationship and a successful diplomatic tenure in the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians.”
In his remarks, the Comptroller-General commended the Ambassador’s proactive approach, describing the visit as strategic and commendable. On behalf of the officers and personnel of the Nigeria Customs Service, he formally congratulated Ambassador Dambazau on his appointment as Nigeria’s Ambassador to China and wished him success in the important national assignment.
He further described General Dambazau’s appointment as a well-deserved and strategic decision by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that President Tinubu made an excellent choice considering General Dambazau’s wealth of experience, discipline, leadership capacity, and distinguished record of service to the nation.
The Comptroller-General also assured His Excellency, Ambassador Dambazau, of the Nigeria Customs Service’s full support and contributions toward the actualization of his diplomatic objectives and mission of effectively representing Nigeria at the global stage.
He further emphasized that the Nigeria Customs Service would work collectively and closely with the Ambassador’s office in promoting policies and initiatives that advance the interests of Nigeria and Nigerians, while strengthening institutional cooperation in areas of mutual national benefit.
The engagement further reflects Ambassador Dambazau’s commitment to building strong institutional relationships and fostering strategic collaboration aimed at advancing Nigeria’s national interests and enhancing effective representation in service to the nation.
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Strengthening Nigeria China Diplomatic Relations Through Strategic Engagement
In line with his vision of ensuring purposeful representation and a productive diplomatic tenure as Nigeria’s Ambassador to China, Lt Gen Amb. Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (Rtd) CFR, Ph.D, Baraden Kano, paid a strategic diplomatic visit to the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Nigeria.
The high level engagement focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation, enhancing mutual understanding, and deepening the long-standing relationship between Nigeria and China through sustained diplomatic collaboration and institutional partnership between both embassies.
The visit reflects Lt Gen Dambazau’s commitment to fostering a stronger and more productive Nigeria China relationship capable of creating greater opportunities in business and investment, education, technology, industrialization, infrastructure development, trade, innovation, and security cooperation.
As part of his proactive approach towards effective diplomatic service, Lt Gen Dambazau has continued to engage relevant ministries, agencies, security institutions, and critical stakeholders across Nigeria in order to build strategic partnerships necessary for achieving his diplomatic objectives and ensuring that Nigeria benefits maximally from its relationship with China.
These engagements further demonstrate his preparedness, dedication, and determination to promote responsible representation, productive international cooperation, and sustainable national development.
Reaffirming the commitment he made during the congratulatory dinner organized by the Kano Business Community, Lt Gen Dambazau reiterated his resolve to support Nigerians involved in legitimate businesses and productive ventures in China and beyond, provided such activities remain lawful and in line with established regulations.
According to him, his mission is centered on creating opportunities, encouraging investment partnerships, supporting economic growth, and ensuring that Nigerians receive effective representation capable of enhancing their success and global competitiveness.
“I will do everything possible to ensure that we record success during my tenure,” he affirmed a statement that reflects his diplomatic vision, active leadership style, and firm commitment towards delivering impactful and result oriented representation for Nigeria and Nigerians on the global stage.
Through integrity, strategic leadership, and purposeful engagement, Lt Gen Dambazau continues to project the image of a capable and highly prepared statesman committed to strengthening Nigeria’s international relevance, fostering stronger bilateral relations, and advancing sustainable national progress.
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In continuation with my pre-departure courtesy calls, today I paid visits to the Chief of Defence, Chief of Defence Intelligence, Chief of Army Staff, and the Minister of Interior. It was an excellent outing meant to ensure that we work on same page in protecting the interests of Nigeria and Nigerians in China, while solidifying all bilateral relationships in our best interests.
The Mission in China includes the Defence section, Immigration Attaches, and the NIA, all under the leadership of the Ambassador. We need to work closely together to achieve our common purpose. I hope to meet with the NSA and DG NIA before I depart.
However, next in line for my courtesy visits are the Minister of Finance, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Minister of Power, whom I earlier met a few weeks ago before his ministerial appointment. He was then DG, Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership. We had already strategised on some outstanding issues. I will also visit the CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission and of course the CEO, Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission.
With these visits, I will be well prepared to hit ground running. China has lots of opportunities for us to take advantage, but we must be strategic in our pursuit to get the best out of it.
Association of Kano Business Community (AKANOBCO) & Kano Chamber of Commerce, Mines and Agriculture (KACCIMA) hosted me a dinner in Kano. Among their ideas is to encourage investments from China to establish manufacturing industries. For now, there is a lot of business in trade and commerce but mostly on importation of finished products into Nigeria. Kano business community wants the industries established in Nigeria to avail opportunities to transfer technology, develop skills especially among youth, and raise the employment level.
This is totally in line with my vision, mission and objectives while in China. We need to leverage Nigeria's richness in natural resources, including rare earth minerals, to develop our industries. Nigeria being the largest market in West Africa can become the hub of manufacturing in the region. We can also use this opportunity to put our defence industry on the production line for weapons and equipment rather than depending on foreign procurement.
We discussed with NACCIMA's National President, Engr (Dr) Jani Ibrahim, on issues of Agricultural development, considering the vast available land for food production in Nigeria.
Infrastructural development is key in our relationship with China, particularly the naughty issue of power. We are not forgetting small scale industries and China provides vast opportunities. Certainly, it is not going to be an easy task, and neither will be a one man's job. And this is why I embarked on courtesy call on MDAs to ensure we synergies in the form of an "All Government Approach" to implement our bilateral or multilateral agreements fully. I need to hid the ground running, especially that I have prepared my first 90-Day Action Plan.
Dambazau Seeks Stronger Nigeria- China Diaspora Ties.
The Ambassador-Designate of Nigeria to China, General Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (rtd), has said that protecting the welfare and interests of Nigerians residing in China will be his top priority as well as pursuing stronger bilateral cooperation in areas of human capital development, infrastructure, health, education, agriculture and security.
He stated this during a courtesy visit on the Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, ahead of his assumption in China.
Amb. Dambazau noted that China is home to a significant Nigerian population, largely concentrated in trade and commerce, and stressed the need to work closely with NiDCOM to provide guidance and support for Nigerians in the country while encouraging them to be worthy ambassadors of Nigeria abroad.
On the bilateral relationship, he noted that Nigeria and China have maintained formal diplomatic ties since 1971, a relationship that has grown over the decades through multiple state visits.
He recalled President Tinubu’s 2024 visit to Beijing, during which China expressed support for the Renewed Hope Agenda and Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to the One China Policy, as the most recent demonstration of that partnership.
Drawing on his background as a former Minister of Interior and Chief of Army Staff, Amb. Dambazau stressed the need for security cooperation, noting that Nigeria stands to benefit from technical and strategic support from China in addressing emerging security challenges in the country.
Receiving him, Dabiri-Erewa applauded him as the first Ambassador to call on the Commission, saying that his experience in government and security would serve Nigeria’s diaspora community in China well.
She also described him as a strategic networker whose connections would greatly benefit Nigerians living there.
The NiDCOM Chairman reaffirmed the Commission’s support for the One-China Policy that it would be relying on the Ambassador’s office to assist with data collection and documentation of Nigerians residing in China.
Dabiri-Erewa assured of the Commission’s support for the One China Policy and noted that beyond the diplomatic dimension of that commitment, Nigeria also stands to gain significantly from China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which presents concrete opportunities for investment in infrastructure, railways, ports and trade corridors that could directly benefit Nigerian businesses and the broader economy.
She stressed that Nigerians in the diaspora, particularly those in China, are well positioned to serve as bridges for these economic opportunities.
She also invited Ambassador Dambazzau to participate in the 2026 National Diaspora Day, scheduled for July 24 to 25, themed “Harnessing Global Diaspora Medical Expertise to Strengthen Local Health Systems for National Development,” as well as the Nigeria Diaspora Economic Conference (NiDCEC) in Toronto from August 12 to 15, and the Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit (NDIS) in November 2026.
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Lt Gen Amb Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (Rtd) CFR, Ph.D, (Baraden Kano), paid a courtesy and strategic visit to the Defence Headquarters, where he held a high-level meeting with General OO Oluyede, Chief of Defence Staff. @DHQNigeria@MYPD2020
8th anniversary of the conferment of the revered traditional title of Baraden Kano on His Excellency, Lt Gen Ambassador Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (Rtd) CFR, PhD (Baraden Kano)
Lt Gen Amb Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (Rtd) CFR, Ph.D, Baraden Kano, paid another strategic visit to the Federal Ministry of Interior in furtherance of ongoing consultations and collaborative engagements aimed at strengthening Nigeria–China relations.
BIGG Board of Trustees (BOT) Congratulates Lt Gen Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (Rtd), CFR, Ph.D (Baraden Kano) on His Ambassadorial Nomination to Beijing, China
The Board of Trustees (BOT) of the BAT Initiative for Good Governance (BIGG) proudly extends its warmest congratulations to Lt General Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (Rtd), CFR, Ph.D (Baraden Kano) Founder and National Chairman of BIGG on his distinguished nomination as Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Beijing, China by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
General Dambazau’s nomination represents a profound recognition of his lifelong dedication to national service, his distinguished statesmanship, and his exceptional strategic insight. Over the years, his immense contributions to governance, national security, diplomacy, and public administration have established him as one of Nigeria’s most respected voices in national and international affairs.
As Founder and National Chairman of the BIGG, General Dambazau nurtured the movement from its formative stage into a formidable national platform built on the pillars of integrity, patriotism, discipline, and visionary leadership. Under his fatherly guidance and exemplary moral character, BIGG has grown into a strong grassroots structure with over 500,000 indigenous members in Kano State and more than 3.4 million registered supporters across the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
His leadership proved particularly instrumental during the 2023 General Elections, where he served as National Advisor on Strategic Engagement for the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC). His strategic depth, national credibility, and remarkable ability to inspire trust across political, traditional, professional, and grassroots communities played a vital role in mobilizing widespread support that contributed to the historic victory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Beyond his distinguished military career and service as former Minister of Interior, General Dambazau stands out as a diplomat scholar of global repute, a respected national elder, and a statesman whose influence transcends politics. His humility, intellectual depth, and principled leadership have earned him widespread respect across the nation and beyond.
His dignified invitation to “take a bow and go” during the Senate screening further reflects the immense respect and recognition he commands across the country’s political and institutional landscape.
The Board of Trustees and the entire BIGG family nationwide believe that his posting to Beijing, China one of Nigeria’s most strategic diplomatic missions is both timely and well deserved. We are confident that General Dambazau will represent Nigeria with honour, diplomatic excellence, and a deep commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and advancing Nigeria’s global interests.
Today, we do not merely celebrate General Dambazau, we celebrate Nigeria.
The Board of Trustees also reaffirms its firm support and loyalty to the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and commends this remarkable nomination which reflects the President’s commitment to credible leadership and effective global representation.
Congratulations, Your Excellency, Sir.
Nigeria is proud of you.
BIGG is proud of you.
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Arrival of the Chancellor, Pro-Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, Guest Speaker, members of the university community, invited guests, royal fathers, dignitaries, students, families, and well-wishers at the CCUK 1st Convocation Lecture.
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