Tinubu Hails BUA’s MoU with UAE Firms as Signals for Industrial Breakthrough
By Momodu Favour
President Bola Tinubu has commended the signing of a strategic Memorandum of Understanding between Nigeria’s BUA Group and two United Arab Emirates-based firms AD Ports Group and MAIR Group describing the agreement as a major milestone in Nigeria–UAE economic relations.
The MoU was signed in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, and is expected to deepen industrial cooperation and structured trade flows between West Africa and the Gulf region.
In a statement, President Tinubu said the agreement represents a tangible dividend of renewed diplomatic engagement between Nigeria and the UAE under his administration. He noted that his recent state visits and high-level discussions with Emirati leaders prioritised trade expansion, infrastructure development, food security, and foreign direct investment.
According to the president, the MoU explores collaboration in sugar refining, agro-industrial development, and integrated global logistics solutions.
The arrangement includes plans for sugar refining and advanced logistics infrastructure to be developed in the UAE, aimed at enhancing value addition and strengthening supply chain resilience between both regions.
Tinubu said the partnership demonstrates growing international confidence in Nigeria’s economic reform agenda and reinforces his administration’s commitment to export-led industrialisation.
“Strategic diplomacy must translate into measurable economic gains,” the president stated. “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.”
He added that the collaboration underscores the increasing capacity of Nigerian companies to compete internationally and build strategic alliances with leading global firms.
The president also highlighted BUA Group’s established industrial footprint in Nigeria, particularly in integrated food processing and port infrastructure investments, as a strong foundation for expanded international trade integration.
Tinubu specifically commended the Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu, for sustained investments across key sectors of the Nigerian economy.
“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 said.
The presidency maintained that the agreement aligns with broader efforts to diversify Nigeria’s export base, reduce over-reliance on crude oil revenues, and strengthen agro-industrial value chains.
Analysts say the MoU could open new trade corridors between West Africa and the Gulf, improve logistics efficiency, and attract additional foreign capital into Nigeria’s manufacturing and agricultural sectors.
President Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to deepening bilateral economic partnerships that attract investment, expand exports, strengthen Nigerian enterprises, and deliver sustainable prosperity for the country.
