President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to return to
Nigeria following his participation, alongside key 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 President’s Special Adviser 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, a move
aimed at significantly strengthening economic relations 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 critical sectors such as
energy, infrastructure, agriculture, mining and renewable energy.
During his address at the global 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 prime destination for sustainable,
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, which will support ongoing energy transition reforms
and efforts to expand electricity access nationwide.
Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week serves as a major global
platform, bringing 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 CEPA agreement will provide Nigerian
exporters with a strategic gateway to global markets, particularly across the
Gulf region and beyond.
Oduwole made the remarks on Thursday during an
appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, following the
signing of the agreement.
She explained that the deal allows over 7,000
Nigerian product lines — including pharmaceuticals, chemicals and
agricultural produce — to enter the UAE market duty-free, significantly
enhancing the competitiveness of Nigerian goods.
“More than 7,000 product lines will be allowed into
the UAE market duty-free. We really want Nigerian businesses to take advantage
of this opportunity,” she said.
The minister added that the UAE was deliberately
chosen as a trade partner due to its strategic position as a global commercial
hub and its extensive connectivity to international markets.
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