President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has returned to Abuja following his participation in the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, where he witnessed the signing of a landmark trade agreement between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, confirmed his return in a statement issued on Saturday titled “President Tinubu returns to Nigeria after Abu Dhabi trip.”
President Tinubu had departed Nigeria for Paris on Sunday, December 28, 2025, to conclude the remaining part of his annual leave before proceeding to Abu Dhabi for the global sustainability summit, which held from January 11 to 15. This marked the second consecutive year the President attended the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, having also participated in the 2025 edition.
On the sidelines of the summit, Nigeria and the UAE signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) aimed at strengthening economic ties between both countries. The agreement provides duty-free access for thousands of Nigerian products into the UAE market and is expected to deepen economic cooperation, boost bilateral trade and investment, enhance technology transfer, and expand collaboration in key 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 the 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 ceremony.
Speaking after the event, Dr. Oduwole described the agreement as a major breakthrough for Nigerian exporters, noting that it would serve as a gateway to global markets. She added that Nigerian businesses would be able to establish offices and subsidiaries in the UAE, while business owners could reside in the country for up to 90 days within a 12-month period.
In his address at the summit, President Tinubu announced Nigeria’s plan to mobilise up to $30 billion annually in climate and green industrial finance to accelerate energy transition reforms and expand electricity access across the country. He disclosed that the Climate Investment Platform would mobilise $500 million for climate-resilient infrastructure, while the National Climate Change Fund is targeting a $2 billion capitalisation.
The President also announced that a joint Nigeria-UAE Investopia Summit would be held in Lagos in February. The event is expected to convene investors, innovators, policymakers, and business leaders to explore investment opportunities in Nigeria.
The Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week is an annual global platform 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,” focused on the integration of finance, technology, energy, and human capital to drive sustainable development.
