…Nigeria, UAE Seal Trade Pact, To Co-Host Investopia In Lagos
…Pact Opens Duty-Free Access For Nigerian Exports — Minister
…Says It Removes Tariffs On 7,000 Nigerian Products, Boosts Exports, Jobs
ABUJA – President Bola Tinubu has said that Nigeria is not averse to welcoming foreign investors who will unlock potential in green energy financing estimated at over $30 billion.
Tinubu, who is attending the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) taking place in the United Arab Emirates, on Tuesday, said Nigeria boasts of a natural climate potentials which are yet to be fully exploited for mutual benefits to the world, especially in economy, health, energy, as well as food security.
The Nigerian president is attending the summit on the invitation of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates.
Tinubu noted that Nigeria has a well regulated national carbon policy, following the adoption of the National Carbon Market Activation Policy (NCMAP), and the National Carbon Registry which improves emission reporting and verification systems.
Speaking to the theme of the summit, ‘The Nexus of Next: All Systems Go,” Tinubu disclosed that the World Bank is already implementing a $715 million climate action project, which will expand clean electricity access to provide power to over 17.5 million citizens.
According to him, “Nigeria feels at heart as an unvoted body for the development of opportunity. It is in this spirit that Nigeria has launched a climate and green industrialisation investment to unlock $20 to $30 billion annually in climate finance.
“The Nigerian government’s investment of knowledge has launched a $500 million distribution in the U.S. While the World Bank is implementing the $715 million there, which will expand clean electricity access to power to over 17.5 million people.
“The theme of this year’s summit, ‘The Nexus of Next, All System Go’, underscores the urgency and integration required to facilitate a sustainable transition across finance, technology, energy, and human capital.
“The connections between climate and the global economy, health and energy, as well as food security, must now shape the way we govern our upbringing. At this defining moment in history, Nigeria stands with the global community, moving beyond abolition and toward deliverance.
“The nation feels the Nexus of Go as an opportunity to align climate action with energy access, economic growth, job creation, and social inclusion.
“Sustainability or sustainable development ensures that all systems, policy, finance, infrastructure, nature, and human capital must move together. As articulated in Cop 30 in Brazil, climate action must succeed and grow.
“Developing countries require equitable climate finance, accessible technologies, and robust capacity building to support true climate commitments without losing focus on advancing their developments and priorities.
“The perspective records that focus on this goal, we are a system of moving energy to mobilise action, strengthen partnerships, and deliver meaningful impact.
“In the year 2025, Nigeria took a vigorous regulatory step to strengthen our climate governance and strategy. We adopted the National Carbon Marketed Activation Policy (NCMAP), and launched the National Carbon Registry to improve our emission reporting and verification (NRRE).
“To translate our mission to impact, we are modernising Nigeria’s energy architecture. The Electricity Act of the year 2023 now provides for decentralised, inclusive energy. In practical terms, this means sustainable power to rural communities, off-grid health facilities, educational institutions, markets, and the underserved communities.
“Nigeria recognises the urgent need to deploy and advance technologies to improve green efficiency, modernise infrastructure, and accelerate the delivery of sustainable energy to underserved areas. We also recommend that the adoption of artificial intelligence to optimise efficiency is no longer a matter of the future. Therefore, as we work to ensure a stable and reliable energy supply, we are actively seeking partners that promote technology transfer, knowledge exchange, and innovation.
“We are deepening access to green finance. Our climate investment platform targets $500 million for climate resilient infrastructure. While our national climate platform aims to support a $2 billion capital investment, the $50 billion sub-region green bond issued in 2025 attracted $91 billion in subscription”.
Nigeria To Co-Host Investopia With UAE
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has indicated Nigeria’s readiness to co-host Investopia with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Lagos in February.
The president said it is an initiative aimed at attracting global investors and accelerating sustainable investment inflows.
He made this announcement at the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW), on the sidelines of which Nigeria also concluded a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the UAE to deepen trade and cooperation in renewable energy, infrastructure, logistics, and digital trade.
Present at the signing of the agreement were President Tinubu, President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole; UAE Minister of Foreign Trade and Minister in charge of Talent Attraction and Retention, Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi.
Tinubu described CEPA as a historic and strategic agreement that will also enhance cooperation in aviation, logistics, agriculture, and climate-smart infrastructure, creating enduring opportunities for the people of the two countries.
He stated that Investopia will bring together investors, innovators, policymakers, and business leaders to transform opportunities into commitment and ideas into investment.
‘’We warmly invite our partners to join us and help build the next chapter of sustainable and shared prosperity for Nigeria, Africa, and the world, ‘’ President Tinubu said.
The Nigerian president told the summit that Nigeria aims to mobilise up to $30 billion annually in climate and green industrial finance as it accelerates energy transition reforms and expands nationwide electricity access.
‘’The foundation of every modern economy is electricity. As an emerging economy in the Global South, we understand the delicate balance between industrialisation and decarbonisation, ensuring neither is pursued at the expense of the other.
‘’We are calling for a fundamental shift in the global financial architecture: a move away from the restrictive requirement of sovereign guarantees, which unfairly penalise developing economies.
‘’Instead, the focus should be on blended finance and first-loss capital mechanisms that allow private sustainable capital flows directly into our green projects without further straining national balance sheets,’’ he said.
According to President Tinubu, Nigeria has strengthened its climate governance framework with the adoption of a National Carbon Market Activation Policy and the launch of a National Carbon Registry.
He explained that these measures are aimed at improving transparency and investor confidence.
President Tinubu highlighted the Electricity Act 2023 as a central pillar of Nigeria’s energy reforms, noting that it enables decentralised power generation and distribution to underserved communities.
Nigeria, UAE Seal Deal To Eliminate Tariffs On 7,000 Products
Again, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, has said the United Arab Emirates and the Nigerian government stands to gain a lot in the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) signed on Tuesday in Abu Dhabi.
According to Oduwole, for Nigerian exporters, the UAE will eliminate tariffs on over 7,000 products.
She said henceforth, our agricultural and industrial products – fish and seafood, oil seeds, cereals, cotton, pharmaceuticals, chemicals and more, will enter the UAE market duty-free.
She also explained that over the next three to five years, the UAE will eliminate tariffs on Nigerian machinery, vehicles, electrical equipment, apparel, and furniture.
Oduwole noted that Nigerian industrial exports will now have a clear and competitive pathway into one of the world’s most dynamic trading hubs.
In addition, Nigerian businesses can establish operations in the UAE through new corporate entities, branches, and subsidiaries.
She noted that Nigerian business visitors can enter the UAE for up to 90 days in 12 months to explore trade and investment opportunities while intra-corporate transferees, our managers, executives, and specialists can relocate with their corporate entities for renewable three-year periods.
“For Nigeria’s investment climate, this agreement addresses longstanding impediments to foreign direct investment. UAE investors now have clarity and confidence to invest in Nigeria’s productive sectors. This will support Nigeria’s industrialisation agenda, enhance transport and logistics connectivity, and contribute to the creation of quality jobs for our youthful population,” she stated.
On the part of Nigeria, it will commit by ensuring that for trade in goods, Nigeria will eliminate tariffs on around 6,000 products. Tariffs on around 60% of these products will be eliminated immediately, with the remainder phased over five years.
She noted that these imports are concentrated in industrial inputs, capital goods, and machinery that will strengthen Nigeria’s productive capacity, but noted that Nigeria’s Import Prohibition List remains in effect.
“On trade in services, Nigeria’s commitments cover 99 specific services across 10 sectors, including business services, communication, transport, financial services, construction, distribution, health, environment, recreational/sporting, and tourism.
“This CEPA is a strategic instrument for economic transformation. With significant market access secured for value-added and industrial goods, this agreement incentivises Nigerian manufacturers to scale production for export.
“The CEPA also positions Nigeria as the gateway for international investors seeking access to the African Continental Free Trade Area and its 1.4 billion people.
“Nigeria has already recorded unprecedented participation from UAE institutional investors, including First Abu Dhabi Bank, particularly in infrastructure financing. Notably, this includes support for the construction of the Lagos–Calabar coastal road, representing a strong vote of confidence in Nigeria’s macroeconomic trajectory and reform agenda. Sky Capital has been instrumental in supporting the CEPA agreement and in projecting Nigeria’s investor readiness. The signing of the agreement signals acceleration of deals in agriculture, real estate, digital banking, retail and infrastructure financing.
“The agreement is fully consistent with our obligations under the World Trade Organisation, the African Continental Free Trade Area, and ECOWAS”, she said.
On implementation modalities, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment said working with key MDAs such as the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), alongside FMITI agencies such as the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), and the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) and the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) will ensure that Nigerian businesses, and the investors we host, have the information, support, and facilitation they need to take swift and full advantage of this agreement in line with Mr. President’s ‘Nigeria First’ directive.
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