The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Nigeria have formalised a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) that is expected to reshape trade and logistics between the two nations by reducing barriers and enhancing market access for goods and services. The pact was signed on January 13, 2026, during the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week Summit in the presence of senior political leaders from both countries.
Under the CEPA, the UAE will eliminate tariffs on more than 7,000 Nigerian products, including agricultural and industrial goods such as fish, seafood, oil seeds, cereals, cotton, pharmaceuticals and chemicals, granting Nigerian exporters duty-free access to the UAE market. Over the next three to five years, the UAE will also phase out duties on additional product categories such as machinery, vehicles, electrical equipment, apparel and furniture.
Nigeria, in return, will remove tariffs on around 6,000 products imported from the UAE, with a substantial portion of duties lifted immediately and the remainder phased out over time. This reciprocal tariff elimination is intended to boost bilateral trade flows, improve price competitiveness and support diversified manufacturing and export activity on both sides.
Beyond goods, the agreement also opens up broader services and investment opportunities, including easier market access for businesses, professionals and investors. Nigerian business visitors will be able to enter the UAE for up to 90 days annually, while executives and specialist staff may relocate under renewable multi-year permits — a provision expected to support deeper commercial engagement and cross-border operations.
Trade and logistics stakeholders say the CEPA could strengthen aviation, freight movement and supply chain linkages between West Africa and the Gulf, with the UAE serving as a gateway for Nigerian exports to the Middle East, Africa and global markets. Economists project that deeper trade integration under the pact will stimulate economic diversification, attract investment, and accelerate cross-border logistics activity in key sectors.
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