Tinubu Returns to Abuja with New UAE Trade Deal

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu arrived in Abuja on Saturday night, concluding a week-long diplomatic mission to the United Arab Emirates for the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW). The President, who landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport around 11:20 p.m., returned with a landmark Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) designed to fundamentally reshape trade relations between Nigeria and the Emirates.

The newly signed CEPA, witnessed by President Tinubu and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, is a strategic milestone aimed at removing trade barriers. Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, who signed on behalf of Nigeria, noted that the pact grants duty-free access for over 7,000 Nigerian products into the UAE market. Beyond retail, the agreement targets high-growth sectors including renewable energy, mining, and digital infrastructure.

During his address at the global summit, President Tinubu positioned Nigeria as a burgeoning hub for green industrialization. He announced an ambitious target to mobilize $30 billion annually in climate-focused finance. This capital drive is intended to accelerate the nation’s energy transition while expanding electricity access to millions of underserved Nigerians through decentralized power solutions enabled by the Electricity Act of 2023.

A significant outcome of the trip is the announcement of a joint Nigeria-UAE “INVESTOPIA” summit, scheduled to take place in Lagos this February. The President described the upcoming forum as a critical platform for translating diplomatic commitments into tangible foreign direct investment. It will bring together global innovators and policymakers to explore opportunities in Nigeria’s lithium reserves and local value-addition industries.

President Tinubu’s return marks the end of a three-week absence from the country, which began with a holiday in France in late December 2025. His administration is now expected to pivot toward the immediate implementation of the UAE trade pact, which officials say will allow Nigerian businesses to establish subsidiaries in the Emirates with significantly reduced bureaucratic hurdles.