Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates have signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), marking a major shift in Nigeria’s trade architecture and opening new pathways for Nigerian businesses and talent to access global markets.
The agreement was signed on January 13, 2026, in the presence of the two Heads of State, by Jumoke Oduwole, Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, and Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, the UAE Minister of Foreign Trade. Officials described the pact as a strategic instrument designed to deepen trade ties and accelerate economic transformation.
Under the CEPA, tariffs will be eliminated on over 7,000 products, while Nigerian service providers gain access to 108 service sectors in the UAE market. The deal is expected to enhance competitiveness for Nigerian exporters, manufacturers, and service firms, while positioning the country more strongly within global value chains.
Government representatives said the agreement goes beyond symbolism, offering concrete market access into the UAE, the wider Middle East, and international markets, with potential benefits for investment flows, job creation, and enterprise growth.
With the signing of CEPA, authorities reaffirmed that Nigeria is open for business, and that the partnership provides Nigerian enterprises with a clearer, more competitive route to scale globally through one of the world’s most important trade and logistics hubs.
