The Federal Government has announced the elimination of tariffs on thousands of products under the newly signed Nigeria–UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), a landmark deal designed to expand market access, boost non-oil exports, and accelerate economic diversification.
According to the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Nigeria will remove tariffs on 6,243 products imported from the UAE, while the UAE will eliminate tariffs on 7,315 Nigerian products.
The agreement was signed on January 13, 2026, following negotiations led by Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, with support from the Federal Ministry of Justice and the Nigeria Customs Service.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by President Bola Tinubu and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Details of Tariff Removal
Nigeria will immediately eliminate tariffs on 3,949 products, representing 63.3 percent of the total, while phasing out tariffs on 2,294 products over five years.
A total of 123 products were excluded from liberalisation, including meat, dairy, vegetable oils, cocoa preparations, tomato paste, alcoholic beverages, soaps, detergents, and certain cotton fabrics.
On its part, the UAE will immediately remove tariffs on 2,805 products, representing 38.3 percent of the total, with further eliminations on 1,468 products within three years and 3,042 products within five years.
The UAE excluded or prohibited 593 products, including pork, narcotics, used tyres, and asbestos-containing products.
Agricultural and Industrial Goods
The UAE market will now open to a wide range of Nigerian agricultural and primary products.
Tariffs on fish, seafood, cereals, oil seeds, live animals, meat, fruits, nuts, hides, skins, cotton, and vegetable fibres have been removed. Cocoa, coffee, tea, spices, mineral fuels, wood, precious stones, and oils will see phased tariff removal over three to five years.
For industrial goods, the UAE has eliminated tariffs on pharmaceuticals, chemicals, paper, books, and newspapers, while machinery, vehicles, electrical equipment, apparel, furniture, footwear, ceramics, and glass will be phased out over three to five years.
Nigeria, in turn, will provide market access for UAE industrial and consumer goods, immediately removing tariffs on mineral fuels, machinery, vehicles, electrical equipment, iron and steel, and plastics, while phasing out tariffs on fish, fruits, vegetables, and apparel over five years.
Beyond goods, the CEPA also covers services and investment flows. Nigeria’s commitments span 99 services across 10 sectors, while the UAE’s commitments cover 108 services across 11 sectors.
Nigerian business visitors will be able to enter the UAE to explore opportunities and establish corporate entities, while UAE investors will gain improved access to Nigerian markets.
Strategic Impact
The Ministry described the pact as “a pragmatic and comprehensive agreement expected to deliver significant economic and strategic benefits,” including expanded trade opportunities, improved market access for exports, increased flows of high-quality investment, and job creation, particularly for young Nigerians.
The agreement aligns with Nigeria’s obligations under the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and ECOWAS, without prejudicing existing commitments.
The Federal Government pledged to work with agencies such as the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, and Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission to implement the agreement and facilitate increased trade and investment flows.
Exporters and investors were advised to seek further information on product coverage, rules of origin, and export procedures from the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment.
This pact is a significant step in Nigeria’s non-oil export drive, positioning the country as a stronger player in global trade and reinforcing its role as a gateway to West African and continental markets.
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