President Bola Tinubu has returned to Abuja following his attendance at the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, where he witnessed the signing of a landmark trade agreement between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The agreement is aimed at strengthening economic ties and boosting trade between the two nations.
The return was confirmed on Saturday in a statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. According to the statement, President Tinubu had left Nigeria for Paris on December 28, 2025, to conclude his annual leave before traveling to Abu Dhabi for the global sustainability summit.
The Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, held from January 11 to 15, brought together world leaders, policymakers, investors, and experts to discuss sustainable development, climate action, and economic transformation. This marks President Tinubu’s second consecutive attendance at the event, reflecting Nigeria’s ongoing engagement with global sustainability and economic platforms.
On the sidelines of the summit, Nigeria and the UAE signed an Economic Partnership Agreement designed to expand bilateral trade and investment. The deal provides duty-free access for thousands of Nigerian products to the UAE market, opening new opportunities for exporters and manufacturers. It also aims to deepen cooperation in sectors critical to Nigeria’s economic diversification, including energy, infrastructure, agriculture, mining, and renewable energy.
The agreement was signed by Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, and UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi. Both President Tinubu and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan witnessed the ceremony, signaling strong political commitment to the partnership.
President Tinubu’s participation in the summit and the signing of the agreement aligns with his administration’s ongoing efforts to attract foreign investment, expand non-oil exports, and enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global economy. In recent years, the UAE has emerged as a key economic partner for Nigeria, particularly in trade, aviation, energy, and infrastructure development.
With his return to Abuja, President Tinubu is expected to resume official duties.
