President Bola Tinubu has returned to Abuja following his participation in the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.
During the summit, Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed a landmark trade agreement aimed at deepening economic ties between the two nations.
Tinubu's return was confirmed in a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
The statement, titled ‘President Tinubu returns to Nigeria after Abu Dhabi trip,’ marks the end of a diplomatic and economic mission that began with a stopover in Paris on 28 December 2025, where Tinubu concluded the remainder of his annual leave.
At the summit which ran from 11 to 15 January, Nigeria and the UAE formalised a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
The deal, witnessed by President Tinubu and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, grants duty-free access to thousands of Nigerian products in the UAE market.
The agreement was signed by Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, and UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi.
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It is expected to bolster bilateral trade, attract investment, and foster collaboration in key sectors such as energy, infrastructure, agriculture, mining, and renewables.
Speaking after the signing, Oduwole described the CEPA as a “gateway to global markets” for Nigerian exporters.
She added that the deal would allow Nigerian businesses to establish offices and subsidiaries in the UAE, with business owners eligible for stays of up to 90 days within a 12-month period.
In his address to the summit, Tinubu outlined Nigeria’s ambition to mobilise up to $30 billion annually in climate and green industrial finance.
He revealed that the country’s Climate Investment Platform would raise $500 million for climate-resilient infrastructure, while the National Climate Change Fund is targeting a $2 billion capital base.
Looking ahead, Tinubu announced that Lagos would host a joint Nigeria-UAE Investopia summit in February. The event is expected to convene investors, innovators, policymakers, and business leaders to explore investment opportunities in Nigeria.
The Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, themed “The Nexus of Next: All Systems Go,” is a global platform for advancing sustainability and climate action.
This year’s edition focused on the integration of finance, technology, energy, and human capital to drive sustainable transitions.
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