Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have signed a Complete Financial Partnership Settlement (CEPA) geared toward reshaping Nigeria’s commerce structure and increasing international market entry for Nigerian companies and expertise.
That is in accordance with an announcement posted on X by the Minister of Business, Commerce and Funding on January 13, 2026.
The settlement was signed within the presence of each Heads of State, signaling a serious step in deepening bilateral financial relations between the 2 nations.
The CEPA introduces tariff elimination on hundreds of merchandise and opens entry to over 100 service sectors, positioning the UAE as a strategic gateway for Nigerian enterprises into the Center East and international markets.
What they’re saying
Based on the Minister, the settlement establishes a aggressive pathway for Nigerian companies by eliminating tariffs on over 7,000 merchandise and granting entry to 108 service sectors.
The CEPA framework offers for reciprocal tariff elimination on items traded between Nigeria and the UAE, masking considerably all commerce in items between each nations.
The settlement additionally features a devoted Guidelines of Origin chapter, designed to make sure that tariff preferences apply solely to items genuinely produced in Nigeria or the UAE, safeguarding the integrity of the commerce deal.
“Nigeria is open for enterprise, and Nigerian companies now have open entry to the UAE, the Center East and the remainder of the world,” the Minister acknowledged.
Key tariff commitments underneath the CEPA
Beneath Nigeria’s tariff commitments, the nation will instantly remove tariffs on 3,949 out of 6,243 merchandise, representing 63.3% of lined items.
- An additional 2,294 merchandise, or 36.7%, will see tariffs eradicated over a five-year interval, whereas 123 merchandise are excluded. In complete, 6,243 merchandise shall be liberalised by Nigeria.
- On the UAE facet, tariffs shall be instantly eradicated on 2,805 out of seven,315 merchandise, representing 38.3%.
- One other 1,468 merchandise (20.1%) may have tariffs eliminated inside three years, whereas 3,042 merchandise (41.6%) will see elimination over 5 years.
- A complete of 593 merchandise are excluded or prohibited, bringing the UAE’s complete variety of liberalised merchandise to 7,315.
The way it suits with Nigeria’s current commerce agreements
The Ministry famous that the Nigeria-UAE CEPA is per Nigeria’s obligations underneath the World Commerce Group (WTO).
For commerce in items, the settlement satisfies Article XXIV of the Normal Settlement on Tariffs and Commerce (GATT), whereas for companies, it exceeds Nigeria’s current commitments and complies with Article V of the Normal Settlement on Commerce in Providers (GATS).
The settlement additionally enhances Nigeria’s commitments underneath the African Continental Free Commerce Space (AfCFTA).
- Based on the Minister, Nigeria’s AfCFTA tariff concessions for commerce in items will not be affected by the CEPA, whereas Nigeria’s AfCFTA commitments in precedence service sectors—comparable to enterprise, communication, monetary companies, transport, and tourism—exceed each GATS and CEPA obligations.
- As well as, the CEPA operates alongside Nigeria’s obligations underneath the ECOWAS Widespread Exterior Tariff and enhances commitments underneath the ECOWAS Protocol on Commerce in Providers.
Nigeria has formally notified each the ECOWAS and AfCFTA Secretariats of the settlement.
Why this issues
The CEPA represents one in all Nigeria’s most formidable bilateral commerce agreements in recent times, with the potential to considerably increase exports, entice funding, and combine Nigerian companies into international worth chains.
By securing preferential entry to the UAE—a serious international commerce and logistics hub—the settlement might improve alternatives for Nigerian producers, service suppliers, and exporters.
It additionally indicators Nigeria’s intent to pursue deeper commerce liberalisation past Africa, whereas sustaining alignment with continental and regional commerce frameworks.
What it is best to know
Nigerian delegation, led by President Bola Tinubu are at the moment in Abu Dhabi for the 2026 version of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW), which begins on Monday.
Based on a assertion from the Presidency, except for the Minister of Commerce, a number of different ministers, together with the Minister of Finances and Planning, Atiku Bagudu; Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama, and the Director-Normal of the Nationwide Intelligence Company, Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed, are additionally in Abu Dhabi.
The 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, with the theme “The Nexus of Subsequent, All Programs Go,” is a worldwide platform that brings collectively world leaders, policymakers, traders, and consultants to advance dialogue and motion on sustainable improvement, local weather motion, vitality transition, and inclusive financial progress.
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