President Bola Tinubu has returned to Abuja after attending the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, where Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates signed a major trade agreement aimed at boosting bilateral economic relations, Peak Newspaper reports.
The President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, confirmed Tinubu’s return in a statement issued on Saturday, titled “President Tinubu returns to Nigeria after Abu Dhabi trip.”
Tinubu had departed Nigeria on December 28, 2025, for Paris to conclude his annual leave before proceeding to Abu Dhabi for the summit, which held from January 11 to 15. The President also attended the same global event in 2025.
On the sidelines of the summit, Nigeria and the UAE signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), granting duty-free access to thousands of Nigerian products in the UAE market.
The agreement is expected to deepen economic cooperation, expand bilateral trade and investment, enhance technology transfer, and strengthen collaboration across 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 the UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, signed for the Emirates, with President Tinubu and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan witnessing the ceremony.
Speaking after the signing, Oduwole said the agreement would provide Nigerian exporters with a gateway to global markets, adding that Nigerian businesses would be able to establish offices and subsidiaries in the UAE and enjoy up to 90 days’ stay within a 12-month period.
Addressing the summit, Tinubu said Nigeria aims to mobilise up to $30bn annually in climate and green industrial finance to accelerate energy transition reforms and expand electricity access nationwide.
He disclosed that Nigeria’s Climate Investment Platform would mobilise $500m for climate-resilient infrastructure, while the National Climate Change Fund targets a $2bn capitalisation.
The President also announced that a joint Nigeria-UAE Investopia summit would be held in Lagos in February to bring together investors, innovators, policymakers and business leaders to explore investment opportunities.
The Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week is an annual global initiative promoting dialogue on sustainability, climate action and energy transition, with the 2026 edition themed “The Nexus of Next: All Systems Go.”
