Korede Abdullah 
LAGOS, Nigeria – Trade between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) rose to $4.3 billion in 2024 for non-oil commodities, according to UAE Consul-General in Lagos, Salem Al Jaberi.
Speaking on Monday during a visit by master’s degree students of Diplomacy and Strategic Studies from the University of Lagos, Al Jaberi said Africa remained a unique hub for investment.
“The trade relations between the UAE and Nigeria reached $4.3bn for non-oil commodities in 2024. However, the numbers could be much higher with better partnerships,” he said.
The envoy highlighted Nigeria’s strategic importance, noting that Lagos serves as the region’s economic capital. He also disclosed that the UAE ranked among Nigeria’s top five trading partners in Q2 2025.
Al Jaberi revealed that the UAE had signed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements with 11 countries, including Kenya and India, and expressed optimism about reaching a similar deal with Nigeria. “We facilitate market access for UAE investments through business-to-business, business-to-government, and government-to-government channels,” he explained.
UNILAG Associate Professor Henry Ogunjewo described the engagement as a practical diplomatic experience for students. “This outing has shown these master’s degree students real-world diplomacy beyond classroom theories,” Ogunjewo said.
Student representative Chizoba Benson thanked the UAE Consulate for the platform. Experts, however, stressed the need for Nigeria to diversify exports, noting that while Nigeria exported $1.32bn worth of goods to the UAE in 2023, imports stood at $1.42bn.
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