Big Win for Nigeria: UAE CEPA Deal Set to Supercharge $1 Trillion Economy Dream – NACCIMA
By Erewunmi Peace
The Nigeria-United Arab Emirates Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) has been hailed as a game-changer for Nigeria’s economic ambitions, according to the Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA).
The historic agreement, signed on 13 January 2026, is expected to boost trade, attract investment, and expand market access for Nigerian products in the UAE.
Key Highlights of the CEPA
Market Access: The UAE will remove tariffs on over 7,000 Nigerian products, including fish, seafood, oil seeds, cereals, cotton, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals, giving Nigerian exporters a competitive advantage in one of the world’s largest markets.
Investment Boost: The agreement addresses longstanding barriers to foreign direct investment, offering clarity and confidence for UAE investors in Nigeria’s productive sectors, supporting industrialization, and creating quality jobs.
Services and Trade: Nigeria committed to 99 specific services across 10 sectors, including business services, communication, transport, financial services, and tourism, opening up new opportunities for Nigerian professionals.
Tariff Elimination: Nigeria will remove tariffs on around 6,000 UAE products, with 60% eliminated immediately and the remainder phased over five years, focusing on industrial inputs, capital goods, and machinery.
Strategic Positioning: The CEPA positions Nigeria as a gateway for international investors seeking access to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and its 1.4 billion-strong population.
NACCIMA described the agreement as a “milestone for Nigeria’s non-oil export agenda and economic diversification”, highlighting its potential to accelerate the nation’s journey toward a $1 trillion economy.
Officials from both countries stressed that the CEPA will strengthen bilateral trade, investment, and professional services linkages, and create a more predictable environment for businesses.
With the agreement now in effect, Nigeria is expected to increase exports to the UAE, attract quality foreign investment, and expand opportunities for Nigerian professionals across multiple sectors.
