President Bola Tinubu and UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan witnessed the signing of a historic Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) on Tuesday, January 13, 2026. The agreement, signed on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, is set to transform economic ties by eliminating tariffs on over 13,500 products traded between the two nations. Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment Dr. Jumoke Oduwole explained that the deal prioritizes market access for Nigerian agricultural and industrial goods, allowing cereals, oil seeds, and cotton to enter the UAE market duty-free.
In a move to accelerate these gains, President Tinubu announced that Nigeria will co-host Investopia with the UAE in Lagos this February. This global investment platform is designed to bring together innovators, policymakers, and business leaders to convert opportunities into concrete investment commitments. The President described the CEPA as a “strategic instrument” under his Renewed Hope Agenda, aiming to position Nigeria as the primary gateway for international investors seeking access to the 1.4 billion people within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The CEPA also addresses long-standing logistical and business impediments, allowing Nigerian business visitors to enter the UAE for up to 90 days a year and permitting corporate managers to relocate for renewable three-year terms. Beyond trade in goods, the agreement covers 99 specific service areas, including digital trade, aviation, and renewable energy. President Tinubu highlighted that the deal has already sparked interest from UAE institutional investors in major infrastructure projects, such as the construction of the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Road.
Addressing the summit, Tinubu disclosed Nigeria’s goal to mobilize up to $30 billion annually in green finance to support its 2060 net-zero target. He called for a shift in the global financial architecture away from restrictive sovereign guarantees toward blended finance mechanisms.
