The President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has accepted an invitation from President Bola Tinubu to visit Nigeria in 2025. The invitation was extended during bilateral talks between the two leaders at the Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, Abu Dhabi, on Wednesday night.
President Tinubu, who arrived in Abu Dhabi on Sunday to participate in the UAE-hosted Sustainability Week, urged his counterpart to collaborate with Nigeria to bolster its economic development.
In a statement released by Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, the Nigerian leader highlighted his administration’s economic reforms and their positive impact on investor confidence. “President Tinubu said his government’s economic reforms are yielding results and called on the UAE to partner with Nigeria to further develop its economy,” the statement read.
During their discussions, President Al Nahyan expressed gratitude to Tinubu for attending the forum and emphasized the UAE’s commitment to strengthening economic cooperation with Nigeria. The two leaders also explored strategies to attract investments into Nigeria, particularly in the oil and energy sectors.
President Tinubu had earlier addressed the Sustainability Week forum, presenting Nigeria’s position on climate challenges, energy crises, and global development. He congratulated the UAE President on the successful organization of the event, which serves as a platform for addressing pressing global issues like climate change and water scarcity.
Tinubu’s delegation included Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar; Minister of Finance, Wale Edun; and National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu. On the UAE side, key officials such as 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, were in attendance.
President Tinubu expressed optimism about the upcoming visit, noting that Nigeria’s recent reforms have sparked significant interest from international investors, with several announcing billion-dollar investments in the country.
