Nigeria, UAE Seal Bilateral Deal

A bilateral agreement was signed on Tuesday by Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates, UAE, in Abu Dhabi.

According a statement by President Muhammadu Buhari’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the pact between the two countries is to cover finance, trade and judicial matters.

Adesina explained that Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun and the UAE Minister of State for Financial Affairs, Obaid Attayar signed the Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement, while the Minister of Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah signed the Agreement on Trade Promotion and Protection with the UAE Minister of State for Financial Affairs.

He further disclosed that the Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami and his counterpart in the United Arab Emirates, Sultan Bin Saeed Albadi signed the Judicial Agreements on Extradition, Transfer of Sentenced Persons, Mutual Legal Assistance on Criminal Matters, and Mutual Legal Assistance on Criminal and Commercial Matters, which includes the recovery and repatriation of stolen wealth.

The sealing of the pact was witnessed by both President Muhammadu Buhari and the Crown Prince of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

At a reception after the sealing of the agreements, President Buhari reiterated his commitment to fighting corruption and restoring Nigeria’s dignity in the comity of nations and urged all Islamic countries to support the fight against terrorism in Nigeria and denounce the atrocities of Boko Haram as un-Islamic and against the teachings of the Holy Prophet.

In his remarks, Crown Prince Zayed Al Nahyan said the relationship between Nigeria and the UAE will be strengthened by President Buhari’s visit and the signing of the agreements.