January 18, (THEWILL) — President Bola Tinubu returned to Abuja on Saturday evening, January 17, 2026, following his participation in the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW), where Nigeria secured a historic trade and investment agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The agreement, known as the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), was signed on Tuesday, January 13, on the sidelines of the global summit.
The pact is designed to liberalize trade by eliminating tariffs on over 7,000 Nigerian products, granting them duty-free access to the UAE market.
Key sectors covered include agriculture, energy, mining, infrastructure, and renewable energy.
Specifically, Nigerian agricultural exports such as oil seeds, cereals, and seafood will benefit from immediate tariff removal.
The CEPA was signed by Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, and the UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, in the presence of President Tinubu and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Beyond trade in goods, the deal allows Nigerian professionals and business owners to stay in the UAE for up to 90 days within a 12-month period and facilitates the establishment of Nigerian corporate subsidiaries in the Emirates.
During the summit, President Tinubu delivered a national statement where he announced Nigeria’s ambition to mobilize up to $30 billion annually in climate and green industrial financing.
He also revealed that Nigeria will co-host INVESTOPIA with the UAE in Lagos this February to further accelerate sustainable investment inflows.
The President’s return was confirmed by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. Tinubu had been away since December 28, 2025, initially traveling to Paris for the remainder of his annual leave before proceeding to Abu Dhabi for the week-long summit.
The visit underscores the administration’s “Renewed Hope” agenda, focusing on economic diplomacy and repositioning Nigeria as a premier destination for green energy and global trade
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