The Tinubu Stakeholders Forum (TSF) has described the signing of the Nigeria–United Arab Emirates Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) as a decisive policy intervention that will significantly strengthen Nigeria’s non-oil sector.
In a statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Ahmad Sajoh, and Secretary, Danjuma Sada, the forum said the agreement aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda by prioritising export diversification, private sector growth and sustainable job creation.
According to the group, the CEPA grants 7,315 Nigerian products preferential, duty free access to 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 a further 3,042 products within five years.
“This scale of market access represents one of the most expansive trade openings secured by Nigeria in recent years and provides a concrete pathway for accelerating non-oil exports,” the forum said.
TSF noted that the timing of the agreement is particularly significant given the growing contribution of the non-oil economy, which now accounts for about 96 per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product.
It said recent data show that the non-oil sector has recorded average growth of about 3.9 per cent, with agriculture expanding by nearly 3.8 per cent, services by over 4 per cent and the ICT sector by close to 6 per cent, reflecting strong momentum outside the hydrocarbons industry.
The forum said the CEPA directly supports this growth trajectory, noting that agricultural producers will benefit from expanded access 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 pharmaceuticals, chemicals, paper products, footwear, furniture, ceramics and other light industrial goods will benefit from immediate or phased tariff elimination, improving competitiveness and encouraging value-added production.
According to TSF, the apparel and textile sector, one of the country’s major employers, is also positioned to scale up exports as tariffs on garments and fabrics are progressively removed.
Beyond goods, the forum said the agreement opens up significant opportunities in services, with Nigerian firms and professionals in the creative industries, ICT, media, tourism, finance, architecture, engineering, consulting and healthcare gaining clearer and more predictable access to the UAE market.
“These provisions support the export of Nigerian expertise, the establishment of commercial presence abroad and deeper integration into global value chains, particularly for Nigeria’s fast growing digital and creative economy,” the statement said.
The forum noted that Nigeria’s non-oil export earnings rose to about $5.46 billion in 2024, representing a 20.8 per cent year-on-year increase, and continued to grow in 2025, with over $3.2 billion recorded in the first half of the year alone.
It said the CEPA is expected to build on this momentum by providing Nigerian exporters with access to a stable, high-value market and by attracting increased investment inflows.
TSF also highlighted the broader diplomatic and strategic importance of the agreement, describing it as a signal of renewed engagement between Nigeria and the UAE based on mutual economic interest and long term partnership.
According to the forum, the agreement reinforces Nigeria’s position as a credible investment destination and a gateway to the ECOWAS region and the African Continental Free Trade Area.
The group urged Nigerian businesses, exporters and professionals to proactively position themselves to take advantage of the opportunities created by the agreement, noting that effective implementation and private sector readiness would make the Nigeria–UAE CEPA a powerful catalyst for non-oil growth, industrial expansion, increased export earnings and inclusive economic transformation.
