By: Hamza Alkali
The House of Representatives Committee on China-Nigeria Parliamentary Relations has warned that Taiwan is not recognised as a government and its Lagos office serves purely trade and commercial purposes.
Chairman of the Committee, Jaafaru Yakubu, issued the clarification in a statement following remarks by lawmaker Sanya Omirin, who reportedly sought support from the “Taiwanese government” for palm oil production in Osun State.
Yakubu stressed that Nigeria adheres strictly to the One-China policy and does not recognise any government called Taiwan.
He said the Taiwan Trade Office in Lagos operates as a non-diplomatic entity and does not represent a sovereign state.
The committee described Omirin’s comments as misleading and contrary to Nigeria’s foreign policy, warning that such statements could strain relations with China—Nigeria’s long-standing partner in sectors like infrastructure, agriculture, and technology.
It urged public officials to be guided by Nigeria’s official diplomatic stance and avoid actions that might be interpreted as support for Taiwanese independence.
The House committee reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the One-China Principle and pledged to continue strengthening ties with the People’s Republic of China.
