Tuggar: Nigeria Seeks Funding, CEPA Deal at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week

Nigeria is using the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) as a platform to turn climate commitments made at the recent COP in Brazil into concrete projects, investments, and funding, senior government officials have said.

Speaking on the sidelines of the sustainability summit, officials noted that ADSW, which comes between COP meetings, is critical for moving beyond declarations to actual implementation.

They said such forums help countries identify tangible projects, secure financing, and firm up partnerships that often remain unresolved after global climate conferences.

For Nigeria, the event presents an opportunity to address a long-standing gap in project preparation. Officials explained that while Nigeria has ambitious climate and development goals, limited bankable projects have constrained access to international funding.

ADSW is therefore being used to showcase identified projects and engage governments, development partners, and investors attending the event.

Nigeria participated in the previous edition of the sustainability week, which led to the formation of several partnerships.

The government said it is now assessing the progress made since then, particularly in engagements with the United Arab Emirates, while also seeking to expand cooperation.

A major highlight of Nigeria’s participation is President Bola Tinubu’s planned bilateral meeting with UAE President, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

During the meeting, both leaders are expected to discuss and sign the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), a deal seen as key to unlocking fresh investments.

Officials said the agreement would provide legal and investment protection for investors from both countries. On the UAE side, investors have indicated that the signing of the CEPA would give them the confidence to commit capital to Nigeria.

On Nigeria’s side, the agreement is expected to protect Nigerian businesses operating in Dubai, including those with factories and other investments, while also reinforcing the dignity and fair treatment of Nigerians abroaabroad.

In terms of sectoral focus, Nigeria is prioritising gas development for power generation, trade, agriculture, and manufacturing. The government said increased investment in gas is critical to addressing persistent electricity outages, noting that several gas pipelines are currently under construction and a new licensing round for oil and gas acreage is underway to attract more exploration and production investment.

Trade relations between both countries, particularly in agricultural commodities and manufactured goods, are also expected to deepen under the new framework. Officials also pointed to improvements in aviation and financial transactions, including the resolution of trapped airline funds and easier international card usage by Nigerians, as evidence of improving business conditions.

President Tinubu is also expected to present Nigeria’s climate change priorities at the event, focusing on deliverables, nationally determined contributions, and the need to package climate projects in ways that attract global funding.

The government said Nigeria’s approach emphasises not just tackling climate change, but doing so through sustainable and economically viable solutions.