President Bola Tinubu on Monday commended the signing of a strategic Memorandum of Understanding between Nigeria’s BUA Group and UAE-based AD Ports Group and MAIR Group in Abu Dhabi.
In a statement personally issued via his X handle, Tinubu described the agreement as a significant milestone in Nigeria–United Arab Emirates economic relations.
“I commend the signing of the strategic Memorandum of Understanding between Nigeria’s BUA Group and UAE-based AD Ports Group and MAIR Group in Abu Dhabi today,” the President wrote.
Tinubu recalled that only last month, upon the invitation of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, Nigeria and the UAE signed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement aimed at boosting bilateral cooperation.
“This signing therefore represents a significant industrial and trade breakthrough arising from renewed and improved Nigeria–UAE engagement under our administration, and a tangible dividend of strengthened diplomatic ties and expanding economic cooperation, following my recent state visits and high-level engagements that prioritised trade, investment, infrastructure, and food security,” he stated.
According to the President, the partnership among the three companies will explore collaboration in sugar refining, agro-industrial development, and integrated global logistics solutions.
He said sugar refining and advanced logistics infrastructure would be developed at the Khalifa Ports in the UAE to enhance food security, promote value addition, strengthen supply chain resilience, and deepen structured trade flows between West Africa, the Gulf region, and Asia.
“The partnership between the three companies explores collaboration in sugar refining, agro-industrial development, and integrated global logistics solutions, with sugar refining and advanced logistics infrastructure to be developed at the Khalifa Ports in the UAE to enhance food security, value addition, strengthen supply chain resilience, and also deepen structured trade flows between West Africa, the Gulf region, and Asia.
“I have always maintained that strategic diplomacy must translate into measurable economic gains.
“I therefore commend the BUA Group Chairman, Alhaji Abdul Samad Rabiu, and his BUA team for aligning with our administration’s vision for Nigerian industrialisation and showing that Nigerian companies are capable of playing on the global stage, even as this administration continues to deepen partnerships that attract investment, expand exports, strengthen Nigerian enterprise, and deliver sustainable prosperity,” Tinubu added.
The development comes amid growing Nigeria-UAE economic ties, which have already seen a separate government-to-government MoU signed in 2026.
In January, the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy signed a landmark MoU with the Abu Dhabi Ports Group to explore strategic collaboration in ports development, maritime logistics, and digital solutions.
The agreement, signed on the sidelines of the recently concluded Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, forms part of the broader trade and investment engagements between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates.Its signing represents a renewed commitment by both countries to deepen cooperation in the maritime and blue economy sectors.
Punch