Nigeria, UAE forge major new trade pact, eliminating tariffs on many goods

The Federal Government has announced a landmark trade agreement with the United Arab Emirates, eliminating import duties on a wide range of products to boost economic ties.

Under the Nigeria-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), Nigeria will remove tariffs on 6,243 products from the UAE, while the UAE will do the same for 7,315 products from Nigeria.

The agreement, signed on January 13, 2026, by Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, and the UAE’s Minister of Foreign Trade, Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, aims to significantly expand market access for Nigerian non-oil exports, businesses, and professionals.

Specifically, for Nigeria, tariffs on 3,949 UAE products will be removed immediately, with duties on a further 2,294 products phased out over five years.

Nigeria has excluded 123 sensitive products, such as certain dairy items, vegetable oils, tomato paste, and alcoholic beverages, from tariff liberalisation.

Similarly, for the UAE, tariffs on 2,805 Nigerian products will be eliminated immediately. Duties on 1,468 products will be removed within three years, and on 3,042 products within five years.

The UAE excluded or prohibited 593 items, including pork products, narcotics, and used tyres.

The pact opens the UAE market to a broad spectrum of Nigerian goods. Immediate UAE tariff removal applies to key agricultural and primary products like fish, cereals, fruits, nuts, and raw hides, as well as industrial goods such as pharmaceuticals and chemicals.

Tariffs on major exports including cocoa, mineral fuels, wood, machinery, and vehicles will be phased out over three to five years.

In return, Nigeria will immediately eliminate tariffs on UAE imports like mineral fuels, machinery, vehicles, and electrical equipment, while phasing out duties on products such as fish, fruits, and apparel over five years. Nigeria’s existing Import Prohibition List remains separate and in effect.

The CEPA also deepens cooperation in services and investment. Nigeria has made commitments in 99 specific services across 10 sectors, and the UAE in 108 services across 11 sectors. The agreement facilitates Nigerian business visitors and companies seeking to establish and operate in the UAE, and aims to increase high-quality Emirati investment into Nigeria.

The Federal Government described the agreement as a strategic move to accelerate Nigeria’s non-oil export drive, create jobs, and reinforce the country’s position as a premier investment destination in West Africa and under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The government has pledged to work with relevant agencies to implement the pact and has advised exporters and investors to contact the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment for detailed procedures and coverage.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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