The President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has accepted an invitation from President Bola Tinubu to visit Nigeria in 2025.
The invitation was extended during bilateral discussions held at the Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday evening.
This development was confirmed in a statement released on Thursday by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
President Tinubu was in Abu Dhabi to participate in the UAE-hosted Sustainability Week, a platform for global dialogue on sustainable development, including climate change, water scarcity, and energy challenges.
Addressing the forum earlier, Tinubu shared Nigeria’s stance on critical global issues and commended the UAE for organizing the event.
During their discussions, President Tinubu emphasized the importance of fostering stronger economic collaboration between the two nations.
“Our economic reforms are beginning to yield positive outcomes,” he said, noting that international oil companies and other investors have announced multi-billion-dollar investments in Nigeria. “These investments are a clear signal of renewed global confidence in Nigeria as a viable destination for business.”
President Al Nahyan acknowledged Nigeria’s efforts to attract foreign investments and expressed the UAE’s readiness to strengthen economic ties. “We appreciate your visit and look forward to working together to achieve mutually beneficial goals,” he stated.
The talks also focused on strategies to enhance investment inflows into Nigeria, with Tinubu underscoring his administration’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for business growth.
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar; Minister of Finance, Wale Edun; and National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, were part of Tinubu’s delegation.
The UAE delegation included Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Special Affairs, Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, among others.
President Al Nahyan expressed gratitude for Tinubu’s participation in the Sustainability Week and for the invitation to visit Nigeria. “We are determined to deepen our cooperation with Nigeria and explore new opportunities for economic growth,” he added.
The visit in 2025 is expected to solidify ongoing efforts to enhance the bilateral relationship between the two nations.
