President Bola Tinubu has returned to Abuja after participating in the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, where Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates formalised a far-reaching trade agreement aimed at deepening bilateral economic ties.
The President’s return was confirmed on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement titled “President Tinubu returns to Nigeria after Abu Dhabi trip.”
Tinubu had earlier departed Nigeria for Paris on December 28, 2025, to complete the remaining portion of his annual leave before proceeding to Abu Dhabi for the summit, which held from January 11 to 15.
On the sidelines of the global gathering, Nigeria and the UAE signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), a landmark deal designed to boost trade, investment, and industrial cooperation between both countries. The agreement grants duty-free access for thousands of Nigerian products into the UAE market and is expected to enhance technology transfer while expanding collaboration across strategic sectors such as energy, infrastructure, agriculture, mining, and renewable energy.
Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, signed the agreement on behalf of the Federal Government, while the UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, signed for the Emirates. The signing ceremony was witnessed by President Tinubu and UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Speaking after the ceremony, Oduwole described the pact as a strategic breakthrough for Nigerian exporters, noting that it would provide a critical gateway to global markets.
She added that the agreement allows Nigerian businesses to establish offices and subsidiaries in the UAE, while business owners would be eligible to stay in the country for up to 90 days within a 12-month period.
In his address at the summit, President Tinubu outlined Nigeria’s ambitious climate and energy transition agenda, announcing plans to mobilise up to $30 billion annually in climate and green industrial finance.
He disclosed that the Climate Investment Platform would target $500 million for climate-resilient infrastructure, while the National Climate Change Fund is working towards a $2 billion capitalisation.
The President also revealed that a joint Nigeria-UAE Investopia Summit would be held in Lagos in February, an event expected to convene global investors, innovators, policymakers and business leaders to explore emerging investment opportunities in Africa’s largest economy.
Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week is an annual global initiative convened by the UAE to advance dialogue on sustainability, climate action, and energy transition.
The 2026 edition, themed “The Nexus of Next: All Systems Go,” emphasised the integration of finance, technology, energy systems, and human capital as critical enablers of sustainable development.