President Bola Tinubu has returned to Abuja following his participation in the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week and a brief holiday in Paris.
The President’s return was confirmed on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, in a statement announcing the conclusion of the trip.
Tinubu had left Nigeria on December 28, 2025, to spend the latter part of his annual leave in Paris before proceeding to Abu Dhabi, where the global sustainability summit held from January 11 to 15.
While in Abu Dhabi, the President witnessed the signing of a landmark Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates, a move aimed at strengthening bilateral economic ties.
The agreement provides duty-free access for thousands of Nigerian products into the UAE market and is expected to boost trade, investment flows, and technology transfer between both countries. It also expands cooperation in key sectors such as energy, infrastructure, agriculture, mining, and renewable energy.
Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, signed the agreement on behalf of Nigeria, while 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 were present at the signing ceremony.
Speaking after the agreement was concluded, Oduwole described it as a major opportunity 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, with business owners permitted to stay in the country for up to 90 days within a 12-month period.
At the summit, President Tinubu outlined Nigeria’s climate and energy transition ambitions, revealing plans to mobilise as much as $30 billion annually in climate and green industrial financing.
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He said the Climate Investment Platform would raise $500 million for climate-resilient infrastructure, while the National Climate Change Fund is targeting a $2 billion capital base.
The President also announced plans for a joint Nigeria-UAE Investopia summit scheduled to hold in Lagos in February, an event expected to attract investors, innovators, policymakers, and business leaders to explore investment opportunities in Nigeria.
The Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week is an annual global forum hosted 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 aligning finance, technology, energy systems, and human capital to drive sustainable development worldwide.