… Minister says pact removes tariffs on 7,000 Nigerian products, boosts exports and jobs
… Agreement positions Nigeria as gateway for investors into AfCFTA market
Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, has said the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) signed between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will deliver far-reaching benefits for Nigerian businesses, professionals and workers, while accelerating the country’s economic diversification drive.
Oduwole made the clarification on Tuesday in Abu Dhabi following the signing of the agreement on the sidelines of the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, describing the pact as a historic milestone in Nigeria’s trade relations.
She said the CEPA, negotiated under the Renewed Hope Agenda of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, prioritises market access for Nigerian goods and services, attracts quality investment inflows and strengthens Nigeria’s position in global trade.
Under the agreement, the UAE will immediately eliminate tariffs on more than 7,000 Nigerian products, granting duty-free access to agricultural and industrial exports such as fish and seafood, oil seeds, cereals, cotton, pharmaceuticals and chemicals.
According to the minister, tariffs on Nigerian machinery, vehicles, electrical equipment, apparel and furniture will also be phased out over the next three to five years, providing a competitive pathway for Nigerian manufacturers into one of the world’s most dynamic trading hubs.
According to a statement made available to journalists at the State House, Abuja, Oduwole said Nigerian businesses would also benefit from expanded commercial presence in the UAE, including the ability to establish corporate entities, branches and subsidiaries.
She added that Nigerian business visitors can now enter the UAE for up to 90 days within a year to explore trade and investment opportunities, while executives, managers and specialists may relocate under renewable three-year intra-corporate transfer arrangements.
On investment, the minister said the agreement addresses longstanding barriers to foreign direct investment by providing clarity and confidence for UAE investors seeking opportunities in Nigeria’s productive sectors.
She explained that the pact would support Nigeria’s industrialisation agenda, enhance transport and logistics connectivity and create quality jobs for the country’s youthful population.
Oduwole also outlined Nigeria’s commitments under the agreement, noting that the country will eliminate tariffs on about 6,000 products, with 60 per cent removed immediately and the rest phased over five years.
She said these imports are largely industrial inputs, capital goods and machinery required to strengthen Nigeria’s productive capacity, adding that Nigeria’s Import Prohibition List remains intact.
Read Also: Nigeria to co-host Investopia with UAE in February, seals trade pact
On services, Nigeria has made commitments covering 99 specific services across 10 sectors, including business, communications, transport, finance, construction, health, environment, tourism and recreational services.
Describing CEPA as a strategic instrument for economic transformation, the minister said the agreement incentivises Nigerian manufacturers to scale production for export and positions Nigeria as a gateway for investors targeting the African Continental Free Trade Area market of 1.4 billion people.
She disclosed that UAE institutional investors, including First Abu Dhabi Bank, have already shown unprecedented participation in Nigeria, particularly in infrastructure financing such as the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Road.
Oduwole said the agreement signals accelerated deals in agriculture, real estate, digital banking, retail and infrastructure financing, noting that it aligns fully with Nigeria’s obligations under the World Trade Organisation, AfCFTA and ECOWAS.
She assured that the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, working with agencies such as the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, would ensure swift implementation of the agreement.
“The Agreement was negotiated for the Nigerian private sector,” she said, urging businesses to seize the new market access opportunities and expand confidently into the UAE and beyond.
