January 13, (THEWILL) — Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have concluded negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), opening up markets and eliminating tariffs on more than 13,000 products traded between both countries.
The agreement was formally signed in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, by Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, and her UAE counterpart, Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi.
The ceremony was witnessed by President Bola Tinubu and UAE President, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW).
President Tinubu described the pact as a major milestone in Nigeria’s economic diplomacy, designed to boost investment flows in energy, infrastructure, technology, and agriculture.
Bilateral non-oil trade between the two nations reached $4.3 billion in 2024—a 55% increase from the previous year—and the CEPA is expected to accelerate this trajectory significantly.
Under the agreement, Nigeria will eliminate tariffs on 6,243 products imported from the UAE, while the UAE will remove tariffs on 7,315 products from Nigeria. This includes immediate duty-free access for Nigerian agricultural exports, precious stones, and minerals.
In the services sector, Nigeria made commitments covering 99 specific services across 10 sectors, while the UAE opened 108 service sub-sectors, providing Nigerian professionals and firms a strategic gateway into the Middle East.
The deal also establishes a dedicated “Rules of Origin” framework to ensure that tariff preferences apply only to goods genuinely produced in either country.
Furthermore, it allows Nigerian entrepreneurs to enter the UAE as business visitors and establish corporate entities in protected sectors.
In a related announcement, President Tinubu confirmed that Nigeria will host the UAE’s flagship Investopia Africa Summit in Lagos on February 2, 2026.
This marks the first time the global investment platform will be held on the African continent, underscoring growing international confidence in Nigeria’s fiscal and structural reforms
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