Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have taken a major step toward deepening bilateral trade relations, with both countries agreeing to eliminate tariffs on thousands of products under a new Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
The Federal Government disclosed on Tuesday that Nigeria has removed tariffs on 6,243 products imported from the UAE, while the UAE has eliminated tariffs on 7,315 products from Nigeria. The details were contained in an official document released by the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment following the signing of the agreement in January 2026.
According to the ministry, the pact is designed to expand market access for Nigerian goods, businesses, and professionals, while facilitating stronger investment flows between both countries. It described the agreement as a critical boost to Nigeria’s non-oil export drive and broader economic diversification agenda.
Under the arrangement, Nigeria will immediately eliminate tariffs on 3,949 products—representing 63.3 per cent of the total—while phasing out tariffs on 2,294 additional products over five years. A total of 123 products were excluded from tariff liberalisation. On the UAE side, tariffs will be immediately removed on 2,805 products, with duties on 1,468 products phased out within three years and 3,042 products within five years. The UAE excluded or prohibited 593 products.
The agreement was signed on January 13, 2026, following negotiations led by Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, with support from the Federal Ministry of Justice and the Nigeria Customs Service. Dr Oduwole and the UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, signed the pact in the presence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The ministry said the CEPA would unlock new opportunities for Nigerian agricultural, primary, industrial, and manufactured goods in the UAE market. Agricultural exports such as fish and seafood, cereals, oil seeds, fruits and nuts, live animals, and cotton will enjoy immediate tariff removal, while cocoa, coffee, spices, wood products, and mineral fuels will see duties eliminated over three to five years.
For industrial goods, tariffs will be immediately lifted on pharmaceuticals, chemicals, paper products, books, and newspapers, with machinery, vehicles, electrical equipment, apparel, furniture, and footwear to follow within five years. However, the UAE will maintain import prohibitions on 35 items, including pork products, narcotics, used tyres, and asbestos-containing materials.
Nigeria, on its part, will provide market access for UAE industrial and consumer goods, immediately removing tariffs on mineral fuels, machinery, vehicles, iron and steel, plastics, and electrical equipment, while phasing out duties on selected food items and apparel. The government stressed that Nigeria’s Import Prohibition List remains unaffected.
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Beyond goods, the CEPA also covers services and investment. Nigeria made commitments across 99 services in 10 sectors, while the UAE committed to 108 services in 11 sectors, allowing Nigerian professionals and business visitors to operate and establish corporate entities in the UAE.
The Federal Government said the agreement would strengthen investor confidence, accelerate non-oil exports, create jobs—especially for young Nigerians—and support President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. It added that the pact aligns with Nigeria’s obligations under the World Trade Organisation, AfCFTA, and ECOWAS frameworks.
Authorities have pledged to work with relevant agencies, including the Nigeria Customs Service and export promotion bodies, to ensure smooth implementation, while urging exporters and investors to seek guidance on product coverage, rules of origin, and export procedures.