Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates have agreed to remove tariffs on more than 13,000 categories of goods following the signing of a new Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement aimed at deepening trade ties and expanding market access between both countries.
Under the agreement, Nigeria will eliminate tariffs on 6,243 products imported from the UAE, while the UAE will remove tariffs on 7,315 Nigerian products, opening significant opportunities for exporters, investors, and service providers on both sides.
The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment disclosed the details on Tuesday in an official document outlining the scope of the agreement, which was signed in January 2026 as part of Nigeria’s broader economic diversification and non-oil export strategy.
According to the ministry, the pact is designed to improve access for Nigerian goods and professionals in the UAE market while also encouraging increased investment flows into Nigeria. It described the agreement as a key step in strengthening bilateral economic relations and positioning Nigeria more competitively in global trade.
For trade in goods, Nigeria has committed to immediately removing tariffs on 3,949 products, representing about 63 per cent of the items covered. Tariffs on an additional 2,294 products will be phased out over a five-year period. However, 123 products have been excluded from tariff liberalisation to protect sensitive domestic industries.
On its part, the UAE will immediately remove tariffs on 2,805 products, accounting for roughly 38 per cent of its commitments. Tariffs on 1,468 products will be eliminated within three years, while duties on another 3,042 products will be phased out over five years. The UAE also excluded or prohibited 593 products under the agreement.
The partnership agreement was signed on January 13, 2026, following negotiations led by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, with support from the Federal Ministry of Justice and the Nigeria Customs Service. The document was signed by Oduwole and the UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, in the presence of President Bola Tinubu and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The ministry said the agreement is expected to deliver broad economic benefits, including expanded export opportunities, improved market access, increased foreign direct investment, and job creation, particularly for young Nigerians.
As part of the deal, the UAE market will be opened to a wide range of Nigerian agricultural and primary products. These include fish and seafood, cereals and milling products, oil seeds, live animals and meat products, fruits and nuts, cotton, raw hides and skins, and other animal products, with tariffs on many of these items removed immediately.
Tariffs on products such as cocoa and cocoa preparations, coffee, tea and spices, mineral fuels, wood and wood articles, precious stones and metals, as well as animal and vegetable fats and oils, will be removed gradually over a three- to five-year period.
For industrial and manufactured goods, the UAE will immediately eliminate tariffs on pharmaceutical products, chemicals, paper and paperboard, printed books, and newspapers. Duties on machinery, vehicles, electrical equipment, apparel, furniture, footwear, ceramics, and glass will be phased out within five years.
However, the UAE will continue to prohibit imports of certain items, including pork and pork products, narcotic substances, used tyres, and asbestos-containing materials.
On the Nigerian side, the agreement grants UAE products improved access to the local market. Nigeria will immediately remove tariffs on mineral fuels, machinery, vehicles, electrical equipment, iron and steel, and plastics, while tariffs on items such as fish, fruits, vegetables, and apparel will be phased out over five years.
Nigeria has retained its Import Prohibition List as a separate measure, with excluded items including meat and dairy products, selected vegetables, vegetable oils, cocoa preparations, cereal and flour products, tomato paste, alcoholic beverages, soaps and detergents, and certain cotton yarns and fabrics.
Beyond trade in goods, the agreement also covers services and investment. Nigeria made commitments across 99 specific services in 10 sectors, while the UAE opened 108 services across 11 sectors. The arrangement allows Nigerian business visitors to enter the UAE to explore trade and investment opportunities and to establish corporate entities within the sectors covered.
The Federal Government said the agreement would give Nigerian businesses greater confidence to expand into the UAE market while benefiting from stronger investment protections. It added that the pact supports the Renewed Hope Agenda by accelerating non-oil exports and strengthening Nigeria’s appeal as an investment destination.
The ministry further noted that the agreement aligns with Nigeria’s obligations under the World Trade Organisation, the African Continental Free Trade Area, and ECOWAS trade frameworks, without undermining existing regional commitments.
Relevant government agencies, including the Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, and the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, are expected to work together to implement the agreement and facilitate increased trade and investment flows between both countries.
Exporters and investors have been advised to seek detailed guidance on product coverage, rules of origin, and export procedures from the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and other relevant agencies.
