Tinubu hails BUA’s UAE deal as Nigeria–UAE trade breakthrough

From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja

President Bola Tinubu has praised a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by Nigeria’s BUA Group with UAE-based AD Ports Group and MAIR Group, describing it as a major industrial and trade milestone arising from his administration’s renewed ties with the United Arab Emirates.

According to a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the deal, sealed in Abu Dhabi, targets sugar refining, agro-industrial growth and global logistics, with new facilities planned in the UAE to boost value addition, supply chains and trade links between West Africa and the Gulf.

Tinubu linked the pact to his recent UAE state visits, which emphasised trade, investment, infrastructure and food security. He said it shows rising global faith in Nigeria’s reforms and supports export-led growth.

“Strategic diplomacy must translate into measurable economic gains,” Tinubu said. “This partnership reflects the renewed momentum in Nigeria–UAE relations and our determination to position Nigeria as a competitive industrial and trading nation, while empowering Nigerian businesses to operate confidently on the global stage.”

The President spotlighted BUA’s Nigerian strengths in food processing and port upgrades as a launchpad for global trade. “I must also commend the Chairman of BUA Group, Alhaji Abdul Samad Rabiu, who continues to believe and invest in various sectors of the Nigerian economy and has shown the world that Nigerian companies are capable of playing on the global stage,” he added.

Tinubu reaffirmed his push for bilateral deals that attract investment, grow exports and build lasting prosperity.