UAE Consul General congratulates Nigeria on 65th Independence anniversary, pledging stronger ties in trade, education, energy, and culture

Mr Salem Aljaberi, the Consul General of the UAE in Lagos, delivered the goodwill message on Tuesday, describing the milestone as a moment to reaffirm shared values of partnership and prosperity.

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He noted that since diplomatic ties were established in 1982, relations between the two nations had been marked by mutual respect, trust, and ambition.

Aljaberi highlighted the depth of cooperation in politics, trade, culture, healthcare, and education. He described the UAE–Nigeria relationship as a powerful example of what can be achieved when nations pursue friendship with purpose.

According to him, economic cooperation has grown remarkably in recent years. Non-oil bilateral trade between the two countries reached USD 4.3 billion in 2024, a 56.1 per cent year-on-year increase, placing the UAE among Nigeria’s top five import partners by mid-2025.

Emirati investments, he added, continue to expand opportunities for innovation and prosperity.

Since the UAE Consulate General opened in Lagos in 2019, Aljaberi said, several milestones have been achieved, including the launch of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce office, the establishment of the UAE Visa and Attestation Centre, multiple trade missions, and technology-focused collaborations such as Gitex events.

He recalled high-level visits, including President Bola Tinubu’s official trip to the UAE, which ushered in a renewed era of dialogue and cooperation.

The envoy pledged that the UAE would continue to support Nigeria’s development goals in trade facilitation, healthcare, green energy, tourism, and fintech.