Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have taken a significant step in strengthening their economic partnership with the signing of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) aimed at removing tariffs on a wide range of goods traded between the two countries.
The agreement was formalised in January 2026 during the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, where Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, and UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, signed the deal in the presence of President Bola Tinubu and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Under the terms of the CEPA, the UAE will eliminate tariffs on 7,315 Nigerian products, offering immediate duty-free access for a significant portion and phasing out the rest over three to five years. In return, Nigeria will remove tariffs on 6,243 products imported from the UAE, creating expanded market access for goods from both sides.
This bilateral trade liberalisation is expected to boost exports, attract foreign investment, create jobs, and deepen economic ties by opening up new opportunities for both agricultural and industrial products. Nigerian goods such as fish, cereals, oil seeds, cotton, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals will enter the UAE market duty-free, with additional items scheduled for phased tariff elimination.
Officials say the pact will also facilitate increased business mobility, enabling Nigerian professionals and entrepreneurs to establish operations in the UAE and contribute to broader economic collaboration.
The agreement marks a milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to expand its global trade footprint and support the diversification of the economy under the government’s ongoing reform agenda.
