BUA, AD Ports, MAIR plan Nigeria–UAE food, trade corridor

BUA, AD Ports, MAIR plan Nigeria–UAE food, trade corridor

BUA Group has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with AD Ports Group and MAIR Group to develop an integrated sugar, agro-processing and maritime logistics platform connecting West Africa to the Gulf region. The agreement is aimed at building a structured Nigeria–UAE food trade corridor focused on large-scale refining, aggregation, storage, and export logistics.

Founder and Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu, described the deal as a major step in the company’s global expansion strategy. He explained that the partnership goes beyond simple trade, seeking to establish globally competitive industrial platforms that can support long-term food security and sustainable growth.

A key part of the collaboration will leverage the infrastructure of Khalifa Port, which plays a strategic role in industrial-scale investments and global logistics. By connecting to the UAE’s advanced port facilities and shipping networks, BUA aims to scale up exports while increasing value addition within Nigeria and West Africa.

The partnership is expected to streamline supply chains, reduce post-harvest losses, improve product traceability, and ensure more reliable export flows to Middle Eastern and Asian markets. MAIR Group will provide strategic support in designing an integrated production-to-distribution system.

Beyond its commercial objectives, the agreement aligns with the UAE’s UAE Food Security Strategy 2051 and Nigeria’s agricultural transformation agenda. If successfully implemented, the initiative could boost trade efficiency, reduce transaction costs, strengthen Nigeria’s non-oil exports, and enhance the UAE’s long-term food supply security. Overall, the MoU lays the foundation for a cross-border industrial platform designed to transform agricultural production into a resilient, high-value international trade corridor.

       The Sun, 19  Feb 2026