Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have agreed to eliminate tariffs on over 13,000 goods imported between the two countries under a newly signed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment announced on Tuesday.
The pact is designed to expand bilateral trade, deepen market access for Nigerian products, and enhance investment flows in goods and services.
Under the agreement, Nigeria will eliminate tariffs on 6,243 products imported from the UAE, while the UAE will remove tariffs on 7,315 products imported from Nigeria, marking a significant expansion in duty-free market access for both trading partners.
The ministry said Nigeria will immediately remove tariffs on 3,949 products — 63.3 per cent of its covered goods — and phase out tariffs on 2,294 products over five years.
Nigeria also excluded 123 products from tariff liberalisation. On the UAE side, tariffs on 2,805 products will be eliminated immediately, 1,468 within three years, and 3,042 within five years, with 593 products excluded or prohibited.
The CEPA was signed on January 13, 2026 in Abu Dhabi by Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, and the UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, in the presence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The ministry described the agreement as “pragmatic and comprehensive” and a major step in Nigeria’s non-oil export drive and economic diversification agenda, providing expanded market access for Nigerian agricultural, industrial, and manufactured goods in the UAE.
Among the products covered for immediate duty-free access are fish and seafood, cereals, oil seeds, cotton, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals. Tariffs on additional goods such as machinery, vehicles, electrical equipment, apparel, furniture, and footwear will be removed progressively over the next three to five years, offering a phased approach to trade liberalisation.
Beyond goods, the CEPA also opens opportunities for trade in services and investment flows. Nigeria made commitments covering 99 services across 10 sectors, while the UAE committed to 108 services across 11 sectors, facilitating broader economic integration.
The agreement positions Nigeria as a strategic trade partner and gateway for investment into ECOWAS and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) markets, potentially driving job creation and economic growth for Nigerian businesses and professionals.
Implementation responsibilities will involve relevant ministries and agencies, including the Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, to ensure that exporters and investors can fully benefit from the new trade arrangements.
Implications: The tariff eliminations under the CEPA are expected to boost Nigeria’s non-oil export performance, attract foreign direct investment, and strengthen commercial linkages with the UAE — a major global trade and logistics hub — as part of broader efforts to diversify the economy and enhance Nigeria’s global trade competitiveness
