Tinubu returns to Abuja after Abu Dhabi summit, seals landmark Nigeria–UAE trade deal
Nigerian President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has returned to Abuja following his participation in the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, where Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates signed a landmark trade agreement aimed at boosting bilateral economic relations.
The President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed Tinubu’s return in a statement issued on Saturday titled “President Tinubu returns to Nigeria after Abu Dhabi trip.”
Tinubu had left Nigeria on Sunday, December 28, 2025, for Paris to continue his annual leave before proceeding to Abu Dhabi for the global sustainability summit, which held from January 11 to 15. This marked the second consecutive year the President attended the event.
On the sidelines of the summit, Nigeria and the UAE signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), granting duty-free access to thousands of Nigerian products in the UAE market.
The deal is expected to deepen economic cooperation, boost trade and investment, enhance technology transfer, and expand collaboration in key sectors such as energy, infrastructure, agriculture, mining, and renewable energy.
Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, signed the agreement on behalf of Nigeria, while UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, signed for the Emirates. President Tinubu and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan witnessed the signing.
Speaking after the ceremony, Oduwole described the agreement as a major gateway for Nigerian exporters to global markets. She disclosed that Nigerian businesses would be able to establish offices and subsidiaries in the UAE, while business owners could stay in the country for up to 90 days within a 12-month period.
In his address at the summit, President Tinubu announced Nigeria’s plan to mobilise up to $30 billion annually in climate and green industrial finance to accelerate energy transition reforms and expand electricity access nationwide.
He revealed that Nigeria’s Climate Investment Platform aims to raise $500 million for climate-resilient infrastructure, while the National Climate Change Fund is targeting a $2 billion capitalisation.
The President also disclosed that a joint Nigeria–UAE Investopia summit would hold in Lagos in February, bringing together investors, policymakers, innovators, and business leaders to explore investment opportunities in Nigeria.
The Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week is a global initiative convened annually by the UAE to advance discussions on sustainability, climate action, and energy transition. The 2026 edition, themed “The Nexus of Next: All Systems Go,” focused on integrating finance, technology, energy, and human capital to drive sustainable development.
