By Sodiq Adelakun
Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have entered into a landmark Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), a deal designed to eliminate tariffs on thousands of products and dramatically expand market access for businesses in both nations.
The details of the agreement were disclosed in Abuja on Tuesday by Rep. Sam Onuigbo, a member of the Governing Board of the North East Development Commission.
The pact was signed earlier in January 2026 on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.
Describing the deal as a game changer for Nigeria’s trade and investment landscape, Onuigbo revealed that the agreement mandates the UAE to remove tariffs on 7,315 Nigerian products.
Under the terms, 2,805 of these items representing 38.3 percent of the total will enjoy immediate duty-free access.
The remaining products are scheduled for phased tariff elimination over a period of three to five years, covering a broad spectrum of agricultural and industrial goods.
In a reciprocal move, Nigeria has agreed to eliminate tariffs on 6,243 products imported from the UAE.
Onuigbo stated that this arrangement creates mutual and far-reaching opportunities for investors and manufacturers on both sides.
“The agreement creates an enabling environment for Nigerian entrepreneurs with verifiable businesses to open offices in the UAE, operate there for up to three months, and return home with expanded opportunities,” Onuigbo explained, highlighting the pact’s potential to foster direct business linkages.
He commended President Bola Tinubu for driving the initiative, noting that it dovetails with the administration’s broader economic agenda to attract foreign investment and stimulate job creation.
Onuigbo cited the deal as a complement to other key reforms, including the Energy Transition Plan, the Climate Change Act, and the Electricity Act, which underscore the government’s commitment to industrial growth.
According to the NEDC board member, Nigeria’s active engagement at the Abu Dhabi summit has reinforced the message that the country is open for business.
The CEPA is expected to serve as a critical anchor for deepening trade ties, improving energy cooperation, and accelerating economic expansion as Nigeria seeks to scale its export capacity in 2026.