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Nigeria, UAE sign trade deal to eliminate tariffs on Nigerian of products

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President Bola Tinubu has disclosed that Nigeria has signed an agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to open duty-free access for thousands of Nigerian products into the Arab country. 

In a statement on Tuesday, the president said the agreement was signed on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.

The Nigeria-UAE comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) was signed alongside Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE president.

“For Nigerians, this agreement is not abstract. It opens duty-free access for thousands of Nigerian products into the UAE, expands opportunities for our exporters, manufacturers, and service providers, and gives UAE investors clearer confidence to back Nigeria’s productive economy,” Tinubu said.

“This comprehensive agreement also supports our industrialisation and diversification goals and strengthens Nigeria’s position as a gateway for trade and investment into Africa.

“This is the work of economic reform, purposeful engagement and measured partnerships. The outcomes will serve Nigeria’s long-term national interest.”

The president said the agreement was the result of sustained and disciplined work led by Jumoke Oduwole, minister of industry, trade and investment, and Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, her UAE counterpart.

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“I commend both ministers and their teams for the seriousness and clarity that brought these negotiations to a conclusion,” Tinubu said.

The president expressed hope that the renewed partnership between Nigeria and the UAE will continue to bring lasting benefits to both countries and their citizens.

WHAT THE AGREEMENT MEANS FOR NIGERIA

In a statement on Tuesday, Oduwole said for Nigerian exporters, the UAE will eliminate tariffs on over 7,000 products.

She listed some of the agricultural and industrial products to include fish and seafood, oil seeds, cereals, cotton, pharmaceuticals, chemicals and more, which will enter the UAE market duty-free.

“Over the next three to five years, the UAE will eliminate tariffs on Nigerian machinery, vehicles, electrical equipment, apparel, and furniture,” Oduwole added.

“Nigerian industrial exports now have a clear and competitive pathway into one of the world’s most dynamic trading hubs. In addition, Nigerian businesses can establish operations in the UAE through new corporate entities, branches, and subsidiaries.

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“Nigerian business visitors can enter the UAE for up to 90 days in 12 months to explore trade and investment opportunities while intra-corporate transferees, our managers, executives, and specialists can relocate with their corporate entities for renewable three-year periods.”

Speaking on Nigeria’s investment climate, she noted that the agreement removes long-standing constraints to foreign direct investment.

“UAE investors now have clarity and confidence to invest in Nigeria’s productive sectors. This will support Nigeria’s industrialisation agenda, enhance transport and logistics connectivity, and contribute to the creation of quality jobs for our youthful population,” the minister said.

For trade in goods, the minister said Nigeria will eliminate tariffs on around 6,000 products.

“Tariffs on around 60% of these products will be eliminated immediately, with the remainder phased over five years. These imports are concentrated in industrial inputs, capital goods, and machinery that will strengthen Nigeria’s productive capacity. Nigeria’s Import Prohibition List remains in effect,” Oduwole said.

On trade in services, she said Nigeria’s commitments span 99 specific services across 10 sectors, including business, communications, transportation, financial services, construction, distribution, health, environmental services, recreation/sports, and tourism.

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The minister vowed swift implementation, saying the ministry of industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI), working with key ministries, departmenta, and agencies (MDAs), such as the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), alongside FMITI agencies such as the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), and the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) and the Standards Organiaation of Nigeria (SON), will ensure that Nigerian businesses, and the investors hosted, have the information, support, and facilitation they need to take swift and full advantage of the agreement in line with the president’s “Nigeria First” directive.

Oduwole added that the agreement was negotiated for the Nigerian private sector.

“I urge you to identify your opportunities with enhanced market access and move with confidence into the UAE market with the protections we have secured for you,” she said

The minister added that Nigeria is open for business, and Nigerian businesses now have open access to the UAE, the Middle East and the rest of the world.

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Tinubu returns to Nigeria after state visit to UK

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President Bola Tinubu arrived in Lagos early on Friday following a two-day historic visit to the United Kingdom.

The president is expected to join Muslim faithful later in the day to mark the celebration of Eid-el-Fitr.

Tinubu and his wife, the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, touched down at about 1:15 a.m. at the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport.

They were received on arrival by top government officials and party members, including Lagos State Deputy Governor Femi Hamzat and Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, alongside other All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwarts.

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Tinubu departs UK for Nigeria after historic state visit

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has departed the the United Kingdom for Nigeria following a high-profile state visit.

This was disclosed on Friday morning by the President’s Special Adviser, Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

“President Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu depart London for Nigeria. President Tinubu and his wife are heading to Lagos for the Eid-el-Fitr celebration,” Onanuga wrote on his Facebook page.

The visit was marked by royal engagements, economic discussions and renewed diplomatic ties.

Tinubu was first received by King Charles III at Windsor Castle, where both leaders held talks aimed at strengthening relations between Nigeria and the UK. The visit featured ceremonial honours, including a carriage procession and a state banquet attended by senior members of the royal family.

At the banquet, Tinubu emphasised the importance of stronger cooperation between both countries. “Nigeria remains ready to deepen its partnership with the United Kingdom in trade, investment and shared prosperity,” he said. “We are committed to creating an environment that supports investors and drives sustainable growth,” Tinubu said.

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On his part, King Charles highlighted the enduring relationship between the two nations. “The United Kingdom and Nigeria share deep and enduring ties. Our countries are bound not only by history, but by a shared commitment to opportunity, enterprise and cultural exchange,” the monarch said.

Beyond the royal engagements, Tinubu also took part in meetings with UK officials, including discussions linked to the government of Keir Starmer, focusing on economic collaboration and investment opportunities.

Speaking on the outcomes of the visit, Tinubu said: “This visit has opened new pathways for cooperation, particularly in infrastructure and trade. We look forward to translating these discussions into tangible benefits for our people.”

A key development from the trip was progress on an agreement involving the rehabilitation of Nigerian ports, valued at hundreds of millions of pounds. According to officials, the project is expected to boost maritime capacity and support economic growth.

Tinubu also acknowledged the significance of the visit, noting that it comes at a crucial time for Nigeria’s economy. “We are determined to reposition our economy through strategic partnerships such as this,” he said.

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Good morning! Nigerian Newspapers Headlines: 2027 gov poll: Succession firestorm heats up in 10 states

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1. The simmering build-up to the 2027 general elections is rapidly giving way to an expansive and high-stakes succession season in at least 10 states, as governors in their final terms prepare to exit and a new generation of political actors moves to take their place.

Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Mai Mala Buni (Yobe), Babagana Zulum (Borno), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), and AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara) are in the final lap of their constitutionally permitted two-term, four-year tenures, and the battle for their successors has begun across the states


2. President Bola Tinubu on Thursday night departed London after a two-day historic visit at the instance of the royal family. He is expected to land in Abuja on Friday morning.


3. The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, has called on the Nigerian military to adopt a more proactive strategy against terrorist groups in the wake of deadly bombings in Maiduguri, Borno State.
Abubakar made the appeal on Wednesday evening while declaring Friday as Eid-el-Fitr, marking the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.


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4. Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State says the time of Boko Haram informants and their sympathizers is up, vowing that they would be tracked and made to face the full wrath of the law. The governor gave the warning during a state-wide broadcast on Thursday.


5. There was panic at St. Matthias Catholic Church, Agulu, in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, after a fully loaded lorry crashed into the church premises and caught fire. The incident, which occurred late on Wednesday along the Agulu Lake–Golden Tulip Hotel Road, caused gridlock as motorists slowed down while emergency responders battled to contain the blaze.



6. Nigeria has entered into a fresh agreement with the United Kingdom that will enable British authorities to repatriate thousands of failed asylum seekers and convicted offenders to the West African nation. The deal was formalised by Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo and UK Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood during President Bola Tinubu’s official visit to Britain.


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7. Combined security operatives have arrested three suspected bandits linked to the February 3, 2026 attack on Woro village in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State. The arrest was disclosed on Thursday by the Senior Special Assistant on Media to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Ibraheem Abdullateef, in a Facebook post.



8. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Kano Strategic Command, has arrested a suspect and recovered 510 blocks of cannabis sativa in a major pre–Eid-el-Fitr operation. The State Commander, D.Y. Lawal, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Narcotics, Sadiq Muhammad Maigatari.


9. Nigeria has been ranked the fourth most terrorized country in the world, according to the Global Terrorism Index, 2026, released by the Institute for Economics & Peace, a non-profit think tank headquartered in Sydney, Australia. The report showed that 750 Nigerians lost their lives to terrorism in 2025, representing a 46 per cent increase compared to the previous year.



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10. The Police Command in Enugu State has detained three suspects in coordinated crime prevention operations across the state, recovering a firearm, ammunition and a tricycle. The command’s spokesman, SP Daniel Ndukwe, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday in Enugu. Ndukwe said that on March 15, about 9 a.m., operatives on patrol along Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway intercepted an unregistered tricycle.

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