President Bola Tinubu has returned to Abuja after attending the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, where Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates signed a major trade agreement aimed at boosting bilateral economic ties.
The President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed Tinubu’s return in a statement issued on Saturday.
According to the statement, President Tinubu had left Nigeria for Paris on Sunday, December 28, 2025, to complete part of his annual leave before travelling to Abu Dhabi for the global sustainability summit, which took place from January 11 to 15.
During the event, Nigeria and the UAE signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), granting duty-free access for thousands of Nigerian products into the UAE market. The deal is designed to deepen economic cooperation, expand trade and investment, enhance technology transfer, and strengthen collaboration in sectors such as energy, infrastructure, agriculture, mining, and renewable energy.
The agreement was signed on behalf of Nigeria by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, while UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, signed for the Emirates. President Tinubu and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan witnessed the signing.
Speaking after the ceremony, Oduwole said the pact would open new opportunities for Nigerian exporters and provide easier access to global markets. She added that Nigerian businesses would be allowed to establish offices and subsidiaries in the UAE, with business owners permitted to stay in the country for up to 90 days within a year.
In his address at the summit, President Tinubu said Nigeria plans to mobilise up to $30bn annually in climate and green industrial financing to accelerate energy transition reforms and expand electricity access nationwide. He disclosed that the Climate Investment Platform would raise $500m for climate-resilient infrastructure, while the National Climate Change Fund targets a $2bn capital base.
The President also announced that a joint Nigeria-UAE Investopia summit would hold in Lagos in February, bringing together investors, policymakers, innovators, and business leaders to explore investment opportunities in the country.
The Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week is an annual global forum organised by the UAE to advance dialogue on sustainability, climate action, and energy transition. The 2026 edition, themed “The Nexus of Next: All Systems Go,” focused on integrated approaches across finance, technology, energy, and human capital to drive sustainable development.
