The presidency announced on Thursday morning that the president of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has accepted Nigerian President Bola Tinubu’s offer to visit Nigeria this year.
According to Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on media and strategy, the Nigerian leader invited Sheikh Al Nahyan to a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2025, ADSW, on Wednesday night.
President Tinubu arrived in Abu Dhabi on Sunday as a guest of the UAE President to attend Sustainability Week, a forum for exchanging ideas to support sustainable development around the world and encouraging collective action to address global challenges such as climate change, water, and energy crises.
He presented Nigeria’s views on climate change and other issues earlier on Wednesday and complimented the UAE leader on a good occasion. “During the discussions, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan thanked the Nigerian leader for accepting his invitation and expressed the UAE’s determination to strengthen economic cooperation between Nigeria and his country,” said the president’s office.
According to the presidency statement, the two leaders also discussed encouraging investment to Nigeria. “President Tinubu said his government’s economic policies are paying off and urged the UAE to work with Nigeria to build the economy.
“He stated that the changes had stabilized and strengthened the economy, prompting foreign investors, particularly multinational oil corporations, to announce billion-dollar investments, indicating increased confidence in doing business with Africa’s most populous country.
“President Tinubu thanked Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for the warm reception he and his aides received since their arrival over the weekend.”
Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of Finance Wale Edun, and the National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu accompanied President Tinubu to the meeting at the Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental in Abu Dhabi.
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs; Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Special Affairs; and H.H. Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan accompanied the UAE President.
Other UAE officials at the meeting were Reem bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation; Dr Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology; and Salem Saeed Al Shamsi, UAE Ambassador to Nigeria.