President Bola Tinubu has returned to Nigeria following a brief holiday in Paris and participation in the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, where Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates signed a landmark trade agreement.
The President’s return was confirmed in a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Saturday.
The statement, titled “President Tinubu Returns to Nigeria After Abu Dhabi Trip”, noted that the President left Nigeria on December 28, 2025, to conclude his annual leave in Paris before heading to the UAE summit, which took place from January 11 to 15.
On the sidelines of the summit, Nigeria and the UAE signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement aimed at boosting bilateral trade and investment.
The deal provides duty-free access for thousands of Nigerian products to the UAE market and encourages technology transfer, infrastructure development, and cooperation in energy, agriculture, and renewable sectors.
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 witnessed the signing.
Speaking after the ceremony, Oduwole said the agreement “opens new doors for Nigerian businesses to access global markets.
Companies can establish offices and subsidiaries in the UAE, with business owners allowed to stay for up to 90 days within a 12-month period.”
During his address at the summit, President Tinubu highlighted Nigeria’s plans to mobilise up to $30 billion annually for climate and green industrial financing to accelerate energy transition and expand electricity access nationwide.
He added that the country’s Climate Investment Platform would generate $500 million for climate-resilient infrastructure, while the National Climate Change Fund aims for a $2 billion capitalisation.
The President also announced that Lagos will host a joint Nigeria-UAE Investopia summit in February, which is expected to gather investors, innovators, and policymakers to explore investment opportunities in Nigeria.
Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week is an annual global platform focused on promoting sustainable development, climate action, and energy transition.
The 2026 edition, themed “The Nexus of Next: All Systems Go”, emphasised the integration needed across finance, technology, energy, and human capital for sustainable transitions.
