Beyond the burden of perception: misinformation and media discourse in the Abuja–Kaduna railway (China–Nigeria relations)

Introduction This paper examines the evolving nature of China–Nigeria relations in diplomatic, economic and socio-political terms, with particular attention to how public-facing narratives, including misinformation, disinformation and other contested claims, frame interpretations of the bilateral partnership. Guided primarily by constructivist discourse analysis and supported by postcolonial media theory, the paper argues that the material benefits of Chinese engagement in Nigeria are mediated through contested narratives of development, debt, sovereignty, security and trust. Methods The study uses a qualitative literature review and discourse analysis of selected Nigerian and Chinese media reports, policy documents and academic studies, with the Abuja–Kaduna railway treated as a central illustrative case. Rather than claiming to measure Nigerian public opinion statistically, the study analyses how selected public texts construct and circulate competing meanings about China’s role in Nigeria. Results The analysis reveals that interpretations of China–Nigeria relations are shaped not only by material engagements but also by competing narratives that construct differing understandings of development, debt, sovereignty, security and trust. These narratives influence how China’s role in Nigeria is perceived and debated within public discourse. Discussion and conclusion The study concludes that transparency reforms, media literacy investment, stronger fact-checking ecosystems and culturally attuned public diplomacy are plausible responses to the burden of perception and could support a more credible bilateral partnership. In doing so, it contributes to debates on soft power, information disorder, postcolonial agency and the governance of South–South cooperation.