The Federal Government has signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), eliminating tariffs on thousands of products traded between the two countries.
Rep. Sam Onuigbo, a member of the Governing Board of the North East Development Commission and former House of Representatives member, described the agreement as a “game changer” during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Tuesday. The CEPA was signed during the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, held from January 11–15, 2026.
Under the agreement, the UAE will remove tariffs on 7,315 Nigerian products, with 2,805 items (38.3%) gaining immediate duty-free access. The remaining products will see tariff reductions phased over three to five years, covering both agricultural and industrial goods.
Conversely, Nigeria has eliminated tariffs on 6,243 products imported from the UAE, creating new opportunities for trade and investment between the two nations.
Onuigbo highlighted that the agreement provides a framework for Nigerian businesspersons to establish offices in the UAE, operate there for up to three months, and return, further strengthening bilateral economic ties.
He commended President Bola Tinubu for the CEPA, noting that it aims to reposition Nigeria, create employment, and enhance the business environment for Nigerians and foreign investors alike.
The former lawmaker also pointed to Nigeria’s broader energy and climate initiatives, including the Energy Transition Plan, the Climate Change Act, and the Electricity Act signed in 2023, as critical for achieving industrial and economic targets.
“Nigeria is ready for business,” Onuigbo said, emphasizing that the Abu Dhabi summit would facilitate collaboration on climate change and economic development between Nigerian and Emirati stakeholders.
The CEPA is expected to significantly boost Nigeria’s industrial and agricultural sectors while providing Nigerian entrepreneurs greater access to global markets through the UAE.
Officials described the agreement as a strategic step toward strengthening trade relations, attracting investment, and creating jobs, with both nations set to benefit from deeper economic integration.