TSF Welcomes Nigeria–UAE Trade Agreement, Sees Boost for Non-Oil Economy
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
The Tinubu Stakeholders Forum (TSF) has welcomed the signing of the Nigeria–United Arab Emirates Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), saying the deal will significantly strengthen the country’s non-oil sector.
The forum said the trade agreement is in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in the areas of export diversification, private sector growth and sustainable job creation.
In a statement issued on Monday and jointly signed by its Chairman, Ahmad Sajoh, and Secretary, Danjuma Sada, TSF described the agreement as one of the most far-reaching trade arrangements Nigeria has entered into in recent years.
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According to the group, the CEPA provides preferential, duty-free access for 7,315 Nigerian products into the UAE market.
Of this number, 2,805 products, representing 38.3 per cent, will enjoy immediate tariff elimination, while tariffs on 1,468 products will be removed within three years and another 3,042 products within five years.
The forum said the scale of market access created by the trade agreement offers a clear pathway for accelerating non-oil exports and expanding Nigeria’s trade footprint in the Middle East.
TSF noted that the trade agreement comes at a time when non-oil activities dominate Nigeria’s economy, accounting for about 96 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
It added that agriculture, manufacturing, services and the digital economy now play a central role in driving growth.
The group said recent figures show that the non-oil sector has recorded average growth of about 3.9 per cent, with agriculture growing by nearly 3.8 per cent, services by over 4 per cent and the ICT sector by close to 6 per cent.
According to the forum, the CEPA will directly support agricultural producers through expanded access to the UAE market for products such as fish and seafood, cocoa, grains, spices, cotton, fruits and nuts, thereby strengthening value chains and boosting rural incomes.
It added that manufacturers in sectors including pharmaceuticals, chemicals, paper products, footwear, furniture and ceramics are expected to benefit from immediate or phased tariff elimination, which will improve competitiveness and encourage value-added production.
The forum also said the apparel and textile industry, one of Nigeria’s major employers, stands to gain as tariffs on garments and fabrics are gradually removed under the agreement.
On trade in services, TSF said the agreement opens new opportunities for Nigerian professionals and firms in the creative industries, ICT, media, tourism, finance, architecture, engineering, consulting and healthcare.
“These provisions will support the export of Nigerian expertise, facilitate the establishment of commercial presence abroad and deepen integration into global value chains,” the statement said.
The forum further noted that Nigeria’s non-oil export earnings rose to about $5.46 billion in 2024, representing a 20.8 per cent increase over the previous year, and continued to grow in 2025, with over $3.2 billion recorded in the first half of the year.
TSF expressed optimism that the CEPA would sustain this growth momentum by providing Nigerian exporters with access to a stable, high-value market and attracting increased investment inflows.
On the diplomatic front, the forum said the agreement signals a renewed phase of engagement between Nigeria and the UAE, based on mutual economic interest and long-term partnership.
It urged Nigerian businesses, exporters and professionals to position themselves to take advantage of the opportunities created by the agreement, adding that effective implementation and private sector readiness would be key to achieving the expected benefits.
