Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have signed a landmark Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) that will eliminate tariffs on more than 13,000 goods traded between the two countries, the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment announced on Tuesday, January 13, 2026.
Under the agreement, Nigeria will remove tariffs on 6,243 products imported from the UAE, while the UAE will eliminate tariffs on 7,315 Nigerian products, marking a significant expansion in bilateral market access for goods and services.
The ministry said the tariff eliminations will be implemented in phases to support strategic sectors of both economies. Nigeria has committed to immediately remove duties on 3,949 products — representing about 63.3 per cent of its covered goods — and phase out tariffs on 2,294 products over five years, while excluding 123 products from liberalisation.
On the UAE side, immediate elimination will apply to 2,805 Nigerian products (38.3 per cent), with tariffs on 1,468 products set for removal within three years and 3,042 products within five years, although 593 items are excluded or prohibited from tariff removal.
The CEPA was signed in the presence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan after negotiations led by Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, with support from the Federal Ministry of Justice and the Nigeria Customs Service.
According to the ministry, the pact is designed to “expand market access opportunities for Nigerian products, businesses and professionals into the UAE while facilitating investment flows,” positioning Nigeria’s non-oil exports for growth and supporting wider economic diversification.
Under the agreement, a wide range of Nigerian agricultural and manufactured goods will gain duty-free access into the UAE market, with immediate tariff eliminations on items such as fish and seafood, cereals, oil seeds, cotton and pharmaceutical products, among others.
The UAE’s tariff liberalisation also covers sectors including pharmaceuticals, chemicals, paper and printed materials, while phasing out duties on machinery, vehicles, electrical equipment, apparel, furniture and glass over the medium term.
In addition to trade in goods, the agreement provides for expanded cooperation in services and investment.
Nigeria’s commitments cover 99 services sectors, while the UAE’s commitments include 108 services sectors, enhancing access for professionals and enabling business visitors and investors to move more freely between markets.
The Federal Government said the CEPA aligns with Nigeria’s existing obligations under the World Trade Organization (WTO), the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and ECOWAS, and will support increased export opportunities, attract foreign direct investment, and spur job creation.
Next steps: Implementation of the agreement will involve cooperation with relevant agencies — including the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Export Promotion Council and Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission — to facilitate duty-free trade, clarify rules of origin and support exporters and investors.
