China is to build a 1,315 km railway line running north – south connecting Nigeria’s two main commercial cities, Lagos and Kano. Nigeria’s leader President Olusegun Obasanjo said the five-year railway line was the first phase in a 20-year modernisation programme. The existing railway along these routes has fallen into disrepair and new tracks are to be built under the deal with China.

This is the latest of significant ventures invested by China in Africa – it is said that China now imports more oil from Angola than from Saudi. Some commentators raise the question of China colonising Africa, rich with resources and governed by corrupt leaders.