The government announced late on Sunday that it had intervened in Nexperia, headquartered in Nijmegen, citing concerns over the possible transfer of technology to its Chinese parent company, Wingtech. The Hague invoked its rarely used “Availability of Goods Act,” granting the state powers to block or reverse management decisions it deems harmful to national interests.

The decision, which does not involve direct ownership of Nexperia, triggered a 10% drop in Wingtech’s shares on the Shanghai stock exchange on Monday. Nexperia manufactures chips for cars and consumer electronics and is one of the world’s largest producers of basic semiconductors such as diodes and transistors, while also developing advanced “wide gap” chips used in electric vehicles, chargers, and AI data centres.

Wingtech described the Dutch move as “excessive interference driven by geopolitical bias” and accused non-Chinese Nexperia executives of attempting to alter the company’s equity structure through legal manoeuvres. A commercial court ruling dated October 7 suspended Wingtech CEO Zhang Xuezheng as Nexperia’s executive director, citing doubts about proper management practices. Dutch businessman Guido Dierick was appointed to replace him with a deciding vote, while control of most of Nexperia’s shares was transferred to a Dutch lawyer.

The Dutch government said administrative problems at Nexperia posed a threat to “crucial technological knowledge” and to European economic security. Wingtech has faced similar scrutiny elsewhere, with the U.K. ordering it to divest ownership of a facility in Newport and the U.S. placing it on an entity list in 2024 for alleged involvement in acquiring sensitive semiconductor capabilities.

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The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, has hosted the Netherlands Ambassador at Large on Cyber Affairs, Mr Ernst Noorman, on a courtesy visit to discuss strategic areas of collaboration in cybersecurity.

The discussions focused on key issues, including the international cyber agenda, cyber threats, and cybercrime in Nigeria. Recognising the increasing complexity and frequency of cyber threats globally, both parties explored ways to foster strategic partnerships that would enhance Nigeria’s cybersecurity resilience, build capacity, and drive innovation in digital security.

Mr Noorman highlighted the Netherlands’ expertise in cybersecurity, particularly in developing robust cyber policies, fostering public-private partnerships, and strengthening cybercrime prevention mechanisms. He expressed his country’s willingness to support Nigeria in key areas such as:

Cybersecurity Policy Development – Strengthening Nigeria’s regulatory and legal framework to combat cyber threats effectively.

In response, Inuwa reaffirmed NITDA’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s digital ecosystem through international cooperation, reinforcing existing cybersecurity policies, and supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision for a secure and prosperous digital economy.

He noted that NITDA is already working closely with key stakeholders, including government agencies, private sector players, and international partners, to ensure the country’s cybersecurity landscape is fortified against emerging threats.

This partnership marks a significant step towards bolstering Nigeria’s cyber defences, enhancing cross-border collaboration on cybersecurity challenges, and ensuring a safer digital environment for businesses and individuals in the country.

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