Nigeria, UAE sign trade deal to waive tariffs on over 7,000 Nigerian products

Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) that will eliminate tariffs on more than 7,000 Nigerian products entering the UAE market, signalling a major boost to bilateral trade relations. The agreement was signed on Tuesday in Abu Dhabi after negotiations led by the Federal Ministry of Industry, […]

Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) that will eliminate tariffs on more than 7,000 Nigerian products entering the UAE market, signalling a major boost to bilateral trade relations.

The agreement was signed on Tuesday in Abu Dhabi after negotiations led by the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment under the direction of the Minister and Nigeria’s Chief Negotiator, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, according to a statement from the State House.

Under the CEPA, a wide range of Nigerian agricultural and industrial products, including fish and seafood, oil seeds, cereals, cotton, pharmaceuticals and chemicals, will enjoy immediate duty-free access to the UAE market.

Over the next three to five years, tariffs on additional exports such as machinery, vehicles, electrical equipment, apparel and furniture will also be phased out.

The agreement further grants Nigerian businesses the right to establish corporate entities, branches and subsidiaries in the UAE.

Nigerian business visitors will be allowed to stay for up to 90 days within a 12-month period to pursue trade and investment opportunities, while intra-corporate transferees, including managers, executives and specialists, can relocate for renewable three-year terms.

On the investment front, the CEPA is expected to remove long-standing barriers to foreign direct investment by providing greater clarity and protection for UAE investors seeking opportunities in Nigeria’s productive sectors.

The Federal Government said the agreement would support industrialisation, improve transport and logistics connectivity and drive job creation, particularly among Nigeria’s youth population.

In return, Nigeria has committed to eliminate tariffs on about 6,000 products, with roughly 60 per cent of these tariffs removed immediately and the remainder phased out over five years. The affected imports are mainly industrial inputs, capital goods and machinery, while the country’s Import Prohibition List will remain in force.

In services trade, Nigeria’s commitments under the CEPA cover 99 specific services across 10 sectors, including business services, communications, transport, financial services, construction, distribution, health, environmental services, recreation and tourism.

The government described the agreement as a strategic tool for economic diversification under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, noting that it positions Nigeria as a gateway for investors seeking access to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) market of 1.4 billion people.

The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment said implementation would be carried out in collaboration with relevant agencies, including the Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, to ensure businesses can quickly take advantage of the agreement.

Oduwole urged Nigerian businesses to leverage the enhanced market access, stressing that the CEPA was negotiated to deliver tangible benefits to the private sector and expand Nigeria’s footprint in global trade.