Tinubu Returns to Nigeria After Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, Nigeria Signs Trade Deal with UAE

President Bola Tinubu is expected to return to Nigeria after participating, alongside members of his cabinet, in the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW 2026).

The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Friday by the **Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga**.

On the sidelines of the summit, Nigeria signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a move aimed at strengthening economic ties between both countries.

According to the statement, the agreement is designed to deepen economic cooperation, boost bilateral trade and investment, promote technology transfer, and expand collaboration across key sectors, including energy, infrastructure, agriculture, mining, and renewable energy.

During his address at the summit, President Tinubu announced that Nigeria and the UAE will jointly host an INVESTOPIA forum in Lagos in February, an initiative expected to attract global investors and position Nigeria as a hub for sustainable and long-term investments.

The President also revealed that Nigeria is targeting the mobilisation of up to $30 billion annually in climate and green industrial finance to support the country’s energy transition reforms and expand electricity access nationwide.

The Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week serves as a global platform that brings together leaders from government, business, and civil society to advance sustainable development and climate action.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole**, said the trade agreement will provide Nigerian exporters with a strategic gateway to global markets, particularly across the Gulf region and beyond.

Oduwole explained that the agreement allows more than 7,000 Nigerian product lines — including pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and agricultural produce — to enter the UAE market duty-free, significantly improving the competitiveness of Nigerian goods.

“Over 7,000 product lines will be allowed into the UAE market duty-free. We really want Nigerian businesses to take advantage of that,” she said.

Oduwole added that the UAE was deliberately chosen as a trade partner due to its status as a global commercial hub and its extensive connectivity to international markets.